The Dangers of Kids and Vaping: What Parents Need to Know

For the first time in eight years, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has released a formal policy paper addressing childhood nicotine and tobacco use. Published in the latest edition of Pediatrics, the paper recommends that pediatricians actively screen adolescents for tobacco and nicotine use. This update comes in response to the growing concern about the use of e-cigarettes and vaping among American children, which has become a significant threat to their health.

The Emergence of E-cigarettes and Vaping

According to Dr. Susan Walley, a pediatrician and co-author of the AAP policy paper, the last tobacco statement by the AAP was in 2015 when e-cigarettes and vaping were just beginning to emerge as popular tobacco products among adolescents. However, in the interim period, these products have become the most commonly used tobacco product by adolescents in the United States.

Dr. Walley highlights the alarming statistics, stating that one in six high school students and one in twenty middle school students are current tobacco users. While the term "tobacco" is often used, it is more a reference to anything containing nicotine, as e-cigarettes and vaping devices have become the preferred form of nicotine use among adolescents. In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that more than 14 percent of high school students in the U.S. use e-cigarettes, compared to only two to three percent who use cigarettes and cigars combined. Overall, approximately 16.5 percent of high school kids use nicotine products, with girls slightly surpassing boys in use.

Deceptive Marketing and Addiction

Dr. Walley also highlights the deceptive marketing tactics used by nicotine product manufacturers to attract young users, including the offering of flavors. She expresses concern that these tactics are addicting a whole new generation of youth to nicotine products. Adolescent brains are not fully mature, and even intermittent use of these products can lead to addiction.

Nicotine, whether synthetic or natural, is highly addictive, especially for young individuals whose brains are still developing. Dr. Walley emphasizes that the long-term effects of e-cigarettes are still unknown, as these products have not been around for a significant amount of time. However, in the short term, serious, and even fatal, lung injuries related to vaping have been reported.

AAP's Recommendations

The new policy paper by the AAP recommends that pediatricians not only screen adolescents for nicotine use but also check for use by parents and caregivers. If a child is found to be struggling with nicotine addiction, the paper recommends treatment options other than e-cigarettes.

As this is a developing story, more information may become available in the future. It is important for parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers to stay informed about the risks associated with kids and vaping.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

• Is vaping harmful to kids?
  Yes, vaping can be harmful to kids as it contains nicotine, which is highly addictive, and can have detrimental effects on their developing brains and overall health.

• Why is the American Academy of Pediatrics addressing childhood nicotine and tobacco use now?
  The AAP is addressing childhood nicotine and tobacco use now because e-cigarettes and vaping have become the most commonly used tobacco product by adolescents, posing a significant threat to the health of American children.

• What are the short-term effects of vaping?
  Short-term effects of vaping can include serious, and even fatal, lung injuries. However, the long-term effects of vaping are still unknown as these products have not been around for a significant amount of time.