Vaping attracts many teenagers, mainly due to the associated technology, glossy design, and ease of use. Producers of vaping products have characteristically adopted advertisement tactics that seek to attract teenagers, such as using images and animations of under 21, understating the effects, and claiming that vaping improves an individual’s social status (Rubinstein et al., 2018). Vaping is another word for electronic smoking and involves the inhalation and exhalation of vapour from liquefied nicotine using devices such as e-cigarette, personal vaporizer, or vape pen (Child Mind Institute, 2019). Initially contemplated for use by those seeking to quit smoking, vaping has become a highly addictive process that threatens teenagers with multiple health conditions. Although touted as less harmful than smoking, evidence shows that vaping should be made illegal among teenagers.
Statistical figures show a significant increase in vaping among teenagers for the past decade. According to the CDC and FDA reports, the e-cigarette is the most popular method of abusing tobacco among youths, with more than 3.6 million youthful users by 2020 (Wang et al., 2020). In a National Youth Tobacco Survey targeting teenagers in middle and high school, 3.02 million (19.6%) students in high school and 550,000 (4.7%) in middle school confirmed a current use of e-cigarettes (Wang et al., 2020). Out of the 3.20 million, 22.5% admitted daily use, while 38.9% reported use in 20 or more days in the past month. Similarly, 9.4 % of the 550,000 confirmed everyday use, while 22.5% reported use in 20 or more days in the past month (Wang et al., 2020). When initiating a crackdown against the illegal sale of vaping products to minors, the FDA confirmed that the use of e-cigarettes among youths is an epidemic in the making (Child Mind Institute, 2019). Therefore, stakeholders need to act more decisively and promptly to manage vaping among teenagers before things get out of hand.
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Vaping is highly addictive, especially for teenagers. Although manufacturers advertise vaping as less harmful relative to combustible cigarettes, the fact is that vaping products contain high levels of nicotine and other addictive solvents such as propylene, glycerol, and flavors (Rubinstein et al., 2018). For example, a pod of the most commonly used vaping product in the US, JUUL, contains nicotine levels equivalent to a whole pack of combustible cigarettes (Child Mind Institute, 2019). Since teenagers’ brains are still in the development stage, exposure to addictive contents enhances the chances of dependence on such substances and the risk of addiction to other drugs (Wang et al., 2020). Extensive research proves that addiction causes loss of focus in the absence of the abused substance. Regrettably, a significant proportion of middle and high school students rely on vaping to remain attentive either in class or while performing other tasks. Besides addiction, vaping comes with enhanced health risks.
Vaping products contain carcinogenic compounds, cause an inflammation of the lungs, create circulatory complications, and compromise immunity. In a survey conducted by Rubinstein et al. (2018), e-cigarette teenage users’ urine contained significant levels of carcinogenic compounds such as propylene oxide, crotonaldehyde, acrylonitrile, acrolein, and acrylamide. CDC data suggest that vaping products cause lung injury. More than 2,807 lung injury cases or associated deaths across all 50 states were reported as of 18th February 2020 (Wang et al., 2020). Out of the reported cases, the CDC confirmed that 68 deaths were related to lung injury due to vaping (Wang et al., 2020). The national ED data also showed a strong correlation between the rise in vaping and the rise in the lung injury cases reported in health facilities across the US. The data showed a decline in lung injury cases as the use of vaping products dropped in 2020 (CDC, 2020). Studies show a potential correlation between lung diseases and damage to the immune system. Scott et al. (2018) established that e-cigarette liquid produces toxins that cause an inflammation of the alveolar macrophage and cytokines. Vaping also increases the heart rate, blood pressure and may lead to complex circulatory problems in the long term. Despite the multiple health risks, a significant proportion of teenagers remains oblivious of the involved dangers.
The marketing strategies utilized by the manufacturers are deceptive to the more vulnerable teenagers. In multiple judgments, the United States courts have clearly expressed that minors are incapable of making complex health decisions, requiring parents’ involvement (Hickey, 2007). Teenagers’ ability to hide vaping from parents because of the little vaping signs left, and ease of concealment is an added risk (Child Mind Institute, 2019). Meanwhile, the manufacturers have adopted unconventional advertisement methods that include images and animations of teenagers using vaping products and touting vaping to enhance social status (Rubinstein et al., 2018). Besides, vaping product labels often underestimate the contents of addictive contents such as nicotine, propylene, and glycerol. For example, a label may suggest that the e-liquid is 5% nicotine without alluding to the other addictive contents. Federal laws that govern the labelling of products require honesty, which includes warnings about possible health conditions. Nevertheless, vaping manufacturers fail to include warnings about potential health risks such as cancer, lungs’ inflammation, lowered immunity, addiction, and concentration loss.
In conclusion, there are sufficient grounds for enacting laws against vaping among teenagers. There are even reports that minors engage in vaping marijuana, which is even more devastating to their health. Other than illegalization, the FDA and other state agencies must expedite a crackdown against illegal vaping products and enforce appropriate vaping products’ labelling. Parents and schools must also play a role in sensitizing students against vaping products to deconstruct the deceptive perception, suggesting that vaping is safe.
References
CDC. (2020, 25th February). Outbreak of lung injury associated with the use of E-cigarette, or vaping, products . Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html
Child Mind Insitute. (2019, 23rd October). Teen Vaping: What Parents Need to Know . Child Mind Institute. https://childmind.org/article/teen-vaping-what-you-need-to-know/
Rubinstein, M. L., Delucchi, K., Benowitz, N. L., & Ramo, D. E. (2018). Adolescent exposure to toxic volatile organic chemicals from e-cigarettes . Pediatrics . DOI: https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2017-3557
Scott, A., Lugg, S. T., Aldridge, K., Lewis, K. E., Bowden, A., Mahida, R. Y. ... & Thickett, D. R. (2018). Pro-inflammatory effects of e-cigarette vapor condensate on human alveolar macrophages . http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2018-211663
Wang, T. W., Neff, L. J., Park-Lee, E., Ren, C., Cullen, K. A., & King, B. A. (2020). E-cigarette use among middle and high school students—the United States, 2020. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, 69(37), 1310. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6937e1.htm?s_cid=mm6937e1_w
Hickey, K. (2007). Minors’ rights in medical decision making . JONA’S healthcare law, ethics, and regulation.
