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Aid to Quit Smoking or Roadway to Addiction?

MEEFRO August 5, 2023

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Teenagers are the main target of advertisements for e-cigarettes. Pods come in entertaining packaging. There are many flavors designed to appeal to teenagers, including mint, gummy bear, and frosted sugar cookies. This is alarming because studies have found that flavor is the most crucial aspects young people take into account when deciding whether to try e-cigarettes (

JUUL is the most common e-cigarette brand used in the U.S, it is so popular that teens use JUULing as a verb. JUUL pods contain 59 mg/ml of nicotine. This is approximately equal to the nicotine contained in 20 combustible cigarettes (3^✔ ✔Trusted Source
The Vaping Epidemic in Adolescents

Vaping and its Harmful Effects

E-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine such as Diacetyl, Vitamin E Acetate, etc.

Vapes can contain the same harmful chemicals found in cleaning products, nail polish remover, weed killer and bug spray.

Nicotine’s Effect on Teens

The nicotine of 1 vape can equal 50 cigarettes.

Nicotine can harm adolescent brain development. Until the age of 25 the brain continues to develop. Stronger connections, or synapses, are formed between brain cells each time a new memory or ability is gained. The brains of children develop synapses more quickly than those of adults. These synapses are hindered in response to nicotine (4^✔ ✔Trusted Source
Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults

Go to source).

Anxiety and Depression

Vaping is a known cause of depression and anxiety in young people.

Vaping might become a coping mechanism for individuals dealing with stress or anxiety. This can create a cycle where using vaping to relieve stress or anxiety leads to dependence, which can ultimately worsen anxiety (5^✔ ✔Trusted Source
3 ways vaping affects mental health

Go to source).

Cardio-Respiratory Disorders

Vaping has also been associated with potential adverse effects on the heart and lungs from COPD to heart failure.

It can increase heart rate and blood pressure, potentially putting strain on the heart (6^✔ ✔Trusted Source
New AHA statement reveals youth vaping is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease

Go to source).

Diacetyl is frequently added to flavored e-liquid to enhance the taste. Inhaling diacetyl causes permanent scarring in the smallest branches of the airways . This condition is called popcorn lung, it makes breathing difficult and has no cure.

Vaping-related lipoid pneumonia is the result of inhaling oily substances found in e-liquid, which sparks an inflammatory response in the lungs. Symptoms of lipoid pneumonia include coughing up blood (6^✔ ✔Trusted Source
New AHA statement reveals youth vaping is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease

Go to source).

Vaping Paves Way to Future Smoking and Drug Addiction

Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.

Nicotine, which is present in many e-cigarettes, is an addictive substance. Nicotine use can lead to changes in the brain that make a person more susceptible to addiction.

Young people who vape are more likely to try cigarettes, marijuana, and other drugs. They were also more likely to have a history of substance use (7^✔ ✔Trusted Source
The Unhealthy Association Between Smoking, Vaping, and Other Drug Use

Go to source).

“It’s glamorous on film, but it’s not glamorous waking up and smelling like an ashtray.” – John Hamm

Despite the fact that vaping has been marketed as a safer and healthier smoking alternative and a smoking cessation method, vaping has been found to have similar effects to smoking on lung function and cardiovascular function.

If you or someone you know is dealing with vaping addiction, it’s essential to seek help from healthcare professionals or addiction support organizations.

Remember, A smile looks beautiful on your lips than a cigarette or a vape, any day!

References :

Youth vaping: a review and update on global epidemiology, physical and behavioral health risks, and clinical considerations – (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8364775/)

What the Health: What is the difference between smoking and vaping? – (https://habs.uq.edu.au/article/2022/06/what-health-what-difference-between-smoking-and-vaping)

The Vaping Epidemic in Adolescents – (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7023954/)

Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults – (https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html)

3 ways vaping affects mental health – (https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/targeted-communities/3-ways-vaping-affects-mental-health)

New AHA statement reveals youth vaping is linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease – (https://medicine.osu.edu/news/youth-vaping-linked-cardiovascular-disease)