Vaping and e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular among teenagers, with one in ten middle and high school students using them according to the CDC. However, medical professionals warn that these devices pose significant health risks, particularly for young people.
The Rise of Vaping Among Teens
Drug and Alcohol Prevention Specialist, Cammie Anderson, has witnessed an alarming trend of children as young as nine years old vaping. "We’re seeing it happen at younger and younger ages. This is not just something we’re seeing in high schools. We’re seeing it in middle schools and sometimes below that in elementary schools," she said.
Vaping refers to using e-cigarettes that heat liquids to produce an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs. Some e-cigarettes come in fruity flavors, making them more appealing to kids. However, these flavors can be misleading as inhaling them into the lungs can be dangerous.
"A lot of times when I talk to young kids, they can’t understand how 'Swedish Fish' or 'Watermelon' or 'Root Beer' or 'Mango' could be dangerous. We eat these candies, but we try to talk about the difference between ingesting candy with those flavors and inhaling that into our lungs," explained Anderson.
Health Risks Associated with Vaping
The aerosol from vaping could exacerbate health conditions such as asthma or even cause lung damage. According to Dr. Jill Mccoy, a pediatrician with PAK Pediatrics, the nicotine in vapes could be up to 20 times the nicotine found in one pack of cigarettes. Other chemicals like formaldehyde and heavy metals that are known cancer-causing agents cause lung disease in younger patients.
Moreover, vapes are compact and easily concealable, making it easier to get away with vaping in non-smoking areas such as schools. Some vapes even look like common objects like USB drives, watches, pens, and markers.
The Importance of Parental Involvement
Parents play a crucial role in educating their children about the dangers of vaping and e-cigarettes. It is essential to start talking with kids at a young age to help steer them away from vaping, e-cigarettes, and cigarettes.
“If parents themselves are vaping or smoking cigarettes, they should think about quitting and using that as an example to their children too,” added Dr. Mccoy.
Parents should also set serious ground rules and establish a smoke-free home. By doing so, they can help prevent their children from being exposed to secondhand smoke and from developing a habit of smoking or vaping.
Tips for Prevention and Quitting
- Explain the dangers of vaping and e-cigarettes to your kids.
- Prepare your kids for peer pressure and discuss what they might say if a friend offers a cigarette or e-cigarette.
- Establish a smoke-free home and don’t allow anyone to smoke in your home.
- Help your children quit by finding a way to support them.
- Medical professionals still don't know the long-term health effects of vaping, which is why prevention education is key.
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