In recent years, vaping has become overwhelmingly popular among teens. Vaping can not only affect the health of adolescents but also cause them to get into trouble with their parental figures and/or at school, as well as get them kicked off of their sports teams.
According to Truth Initiative, about 10% of 15-17 year olds have used a JUUL. About 56% of said teens vape three or more times a month. And nearly half of that group uses it more than 10 times a month.
Vaping is very addictive and causes numerous consequences to the body, including increasing heart attack risk. Also according to the Truth Initiative, vaping also has a negative impact on mental health, including “worsening symptoms of depression and anxiety, as well as higher odds of having a depression diagnosis.”
According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among youth who currently use e-cigarettes, more than one in four (22.6%) use them daily and more than four in ten (42.3%) use them 20 or more times in 30 days.
Studies have shown that our nation’s youth continue to be enticed and hooked by an expanding variety of e-cigarette brands delivering flavored nicotine. The e-cigarette sellers advertise bold and bright colors with fun and fruity flavors, trying to entice the younger generations.
Nineteen students responded to an anonymous survey about teen vaping. Here are some of their responses:
“Obviously, teen vaping is a problem as we all know, but it can be very problematic in numerous ways. When teenagers vape in public, it normalizes that behavior which leaves a mark on the impressionable youth. When you vape, it releases aerosol particles, which makes it easier to get secondhand exposure. Meaning when someone is vaping in the bathroom, they are putting others at risk.”
“As well as the teens vaping in front of others, there are many advertisements for vaping. The advertisements almost give out the message that vaping can help you because it is ‘much better than smoking cigarettes.’”
“Vaping is like ‘an adult pacifier.’”
“Some students vape because of peer pressure and they don’t want to look like a loser because there have been times that people are known to get made fun of because they decline.”
In conclusion, vaping brings just as much harm to your body as smoking cigarettes, especially to those doing it as teenagers whose bodies are still developing. Vaping affects both a person’s physical and mental health.
For help quitting vaping check out this resource from the American Lung Association.
