Electronic cigarettes: How are they affecting our youth?

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes are a relatively new form of tobacco product, and many people have questions regarding the effect they may have on our body.

Recent health studies show that e-cigarettes contain dangerous toxins that can cause cancer, and most of these toxic agents are found in the fruit flavorings that contain high levels of chemical substance called “acrylonitrile.”

These flavorings with carcinogenic chemicals can cause “popcorn lung,” which is a severe respiratory condition. Other risks associated with e-cigarette use include mood disorders and permanent problems with impulse control. It is important for the consumers to always be wary of the fact that e-cigarettes contain more than just water vapor, and a lot of chemicals can be added to flavor them.

Another alarming fact about e-cigarettes is that they can contain enough nicotine to lead to an addiction. Some brands may have a cartridge that provides a shocking 200 puffs, which equals the amount of nicotine in a pack of cigarettes. While 99 percent of e-cigarettes sold in U.S. convenience stores contain nicotine, according to the CDC, one study found that 63 percent of e-cigarette users ages 15-24 did not know that the product they were inhaling contained nicotine.

A current concern is that once nicotine addiction develops, some adolescents may seek other forms of nicotine consumption.

In a recent Center for Disease Control study, 20 percent of high school students admitted to using at least one type of tobacco product. This study also found that 11 percent of those students had used a tobacco product within the past 30 days.

The Federal Drug Administration is now taking action to try to ban certain fruit flavors in hopes of minimizing the toxins in some of these e-cigarettes. It is incredibly important for parents to educate and talk with their children on the negative lifelong effects of nicotine use, in any form, so that long term harm of tobacco products can be reduced. 

Resources:
Rehman, N., & Reynolds, A. (2018, March 05). Teens using e-cigarettes show evidence of same toxic chemicals as smokers: Study. Retrieved April 03, 2018, from http://abcnews.go.com/Health/teens-cigarettes-show-evidence-toxic-chemicals-smokers-study/story?id=53537714
“Tobacco Companies Taking Over the E-Cigarette Industry,” Huffington Post
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, “E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General”