{"id":38576,"date":"2021-08-10T10:00:39","date_gmt":"2021-08-10T14:00:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/?p=38576"},"modified":"2021-08-10T10:10:50","modified_gmt":"2021-08-10T14:10:50","slug":"teen-vaping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.singlecare.com\/blog\/teen-vaping\/","title":{"rendered":"The dangers of vaping\u2014and how to help your teen quit"},"content":{"rendered":"

Vaping is inhaling and exhaling the vapor produced by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette, e-cig). The vaporizer heats up a chemical liquid into an aerosol which is then breathed in. It\u2019s also commonly referred to as JUULing (pronounced jeweling), after a common brand name of e-cigarette. Almost all e-cigarettes contain nicotine\u2014<\/span>though they can also<\/span><\/a> deliver marijuana or other drugs.<\/span><\/p>\n

Teen vaping is extremely common. <\/span>One in five<\/span><\/a> high school students vape. The popularity is driven by attractive marketing, fun flavors, and a misconception that vaping is harmless. Many adolescents and young adults don\u2019t realize there are significant health effects of vaping on teens\u2014risks that are more serious for people under age 25.<\/span><\/p>\n

What does vaping do to the teenage body?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are two main reasons why vaping is bad for teens: lung damage or irritation, and health effects of nicotine consumption.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lung damage<\/span><\/h3>\n

\u201cVaping is terrible in general, and even worse for a teenager,\u201d says<\/span> Osita Onugha<\/span><\/a>, MD, thoracic surgeon, and assistant professor of thoracic surgery at Saint John\u2019s Cancer Institute at Providence Saint John\u2019s Health Center in Santa Monica, California. \u201cAs the body is growing and maturing, vaping introduces irritants in the lungs that can stay in the lung for decades.\u201d In the short term <\/span>vaping can cause<\/span><\/a> coughing and wheezing. There\u2019s also potential for long-term lung issues.<\/span><\/p>\n

There is also a serious form of respiratory illness emerging called e-cigarette or vaping product associated lung injury (EVALI), affecting people who vape, including teenagers. \u201cEVALI causes lung injury producing pneumonia, respiratory failure, and chronic lung disease,\u201d says <\/span>Joi Lucas<\/span><\/a>, MD, author and pediatric pulmonology specialist in Lakeland, Florida. \u201cDiacetyl, a chemical found in flavorings popular in electronic cigarettes, is a known cause of bronchiolitis obliterans, irreversible scarring and restriction of the lung.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Vaping liquids and flavorings that are not regulated can have unknown toxins or chemicals such as benzene, formaldehyde, vitamin E acetate, and heavy metals (like nickel, tin, and lead). These compounds put teenagers at risk of lung damage when they are heated to make a vapor.<\/span><\/p>\n

Health effects of nicotine<\/span><\/h3>\n

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine\u2014even ones that are labelled nicotine-free have been found to contain it. On top of that, the amount of nicotine is often quite high. One JUUL pod contains as much nicotine as an entire pack of 20 regular cigarettes. Two-thirds of JUUL users aged 15 to 21 reportedly don\u2019t know that the product always contains nicotine, according to <\/span>teen vaping statistics<\/span><\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Side effects<\/span><\/h4>\n

Those high doses of nicotine can cause headaches and behavioral changes. \u201cNicotine in e-cigarettes impacts areas of the brain that control mood, impulse control, learning, and attention,\u201d says<\/span> Dr. Lucas. This can cause problems in school, sports, and social situations. When consumed in excess, it can also cause nicotine toxicity, which in severe cases can cause seizures, respiratory failure, and other serious complications.<\/span><\/p>\n

Addiction<\/span><\/h4>\n

The brain continues to develop until about age 25 to 30. The maturing connections between brain cells make teenagers more likely than adults to become addicted to substances such as nicotine. There is also evidence that addiction to nicotine can<\/span> prime the adolescent brain<\/span><\/a> for addiction to other drugs such as cocaine.<\/span><\/h4>\n

\u201cJUUL, a popular e-cigarette brand, uses nicotine salts which allow a higher level of nicotine to be inhaled with less irritation,\u201d says Dr. Lucas. \u201cThis means kids may become addicted quickly without realizing how much nicotine they are consuming.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

E-cigarettes are also used to inhale marijuana, which<\/span> has been linked to problems such as psychosis<\/span><\/a> when used by people under the age of 25.<\/span><\/p>\n

Is it better to vape or smoke?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cThat’s like choosing the best of the worst,\u201d says Dr. Onugha. \u201cDue to the way vaping liquid is preserved, it can kill very quickly by causing respiratory distress syndrome. Smoking can result in lung cancer which is the number one cause of cancer-related deaths. So, what’s the better option? Easy\u2026neither!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

There is a myth that vaping can help teens quit smoking or prevent them from smoking. Instead, kids who vape are about <\/span>four times more likely to start smoking cigarettes<\/span><\/a> or using other tobacco products than kids who don\u2019t vape. Many teenagers also end up both smoking and vaping. This can lead to more nicotine intake, not less.<\/span><\/p>\n

Positing vaping as less harmful than smoking is aimed at deterring cigarette smoking, but instead tends to minimize how harmful teenagers view vaping. Many consider it just a pleasant vapor, underestimating the dangers of vaping for teens and adults. Instead of comparing smoking to vaping, it may be more effective to focus on how vaping is harmful in its own right.<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you know if your teenager is vaping?<\/span><\/h2>\n

\u201cParents must be proactive and ask their children if they are vaping, \u2018juuling\u2019, or using e-cigarettes,\u201d says Dr. Lucas. \u201cDo not ask if they are smoking, because they do not consider vaping the same as smoking.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Some signs to look for that may mean a teenager is vaping include:<\/span><\/p>\n