Rise of E-cigarettes Among US Youth
Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes (more commonly called vapes) first came to the market in 2007.
E-cigarettes can come in varying shapes and sizes. They are marketed as a safer and trendier alternative to traditional cigarettes, with enticing flavors and stylish designs. They may look like regular cigarettes or can be shaped like other objects you may not suspect are vapes – example a pen or flash drive.
Within 7 years of coming into the market, e-cigarettes became the most commonly used tobacco product among students, with higher use than that of traditional tobacco products like cigarettes, cigars, and hookahs.
Photo by Rainier Ridao on Unsplash
Photo by Rainier Ridao on Unsplash
The use of e-cigarettes among high school students has skyrocketed over recent years, with more than 2.5 million middle and high school students using e-cigarettes in 2022.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The rapid increase in vaping during the past few years has stirred public health concern, which is reinforced by the recent potential association between e-cigarettes and acute lung injuries.
In 2019, cases of e-cigarette or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) drastically increased, in which e-cigarette users suffered with respiratory and other symptoms. There were a total of 2,807 EVALI related hospitalizations reported in the U.S. and 68 of these cases resulted in deaths.
Nicotine is highly addictive and nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm the developing brain and affect attention, learning, mood, and impulse control for the youth. It may further enhance the risk for addiction to other drugs.
Young people who vape, have 7x greater chances of becoming smokers one year later, compared to those who never vaped.
Source: Truth Initiative
Photo by Reza Mehrad on Unsplash
Photo by Reza Mehrad on Unsplash
Almost one-third of the students (31%) say availability of flavors is the main reason for using vapes, which is not surprising given that tobacco companies heavily market these flavored products to attract the youth. E-cigarette companies have used social media platforms and advertising campaigns that feature colorful packaging, fruity flavors, and celebrity endorsements. This has created a perception among youth that e-cigarettes are safe and harmless.
A large number of teenagers are not aware that vaping products contain nicotine, and they assume that these devices only contain flavoring. The widespread availability of vapes, attractive advertisements, and a wide range of e-liquid flavors make them attractive to this age group. Furthermore, these devices are easy to conceal from teachers and parents and can be used in places where smoking is prohibited due to their lack of tobacco odor and are often disguised as flash drives.
How can you help?
Photo by History in HD on Unsplash
Photo by History in HD on Unsplash
Policy Makers
Implement strategies to drive down the use of e-cigarette among young people, such as policies that restrict access of youth to e-cigarettes in retail settings, license vape retailers, implement pricing policies, and develop educational programs targeting young people.
Photo by Parabol | The Agile Meeting Toolbox on Unsplash
Photo by Parabol | The Agile Meeting Toolbox on Unsplash
Teachers
Endorse school policies and awareness/prevention programs that cater to all types of tobacco products, including vapes.
Resources For Help
Photo by Jonas Leupe on Unsplash
Photo by Jonas Leupe on Unsplash
Truth Initiative
Young e-cigarette users can access the new vape quit program by texting "DITCHVAPE" to 88709. Parents and teachers who want to help these users quit should text "QUIT" to (202) 899-7550.
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
Photo by National Cancer Institute on Unsplash
#DoTheVapeTalk
#DoTheVapeTalk is a youth vaping prevention campaign launched by the American Lung Association and the Ad Council. It provides parents and teachers with an easy roadmap to identifying the risks of e-cigarettes with children, “Get Your Head Out of the Cloud” also has free educational material that can used for help including a conversation guide.
Photo by Possessed Photography on Unsplash
Photo by Gus Ruballo on Unsplash
Not On Tobacco
Not On Tobacco® (N-O-T) launched by the American Lung Association is a voluntary quit vaping program for teens ages 14 – 19. During the course of 10-weeks, participants are helped to pinpoint reasons behind their smoking, identify healthy alternatives to vaping and find people who can assist them in quitting.
References
Hoffer, Adam. “Vapor Taxes by State, 2022.” Tax Foundation, February 9, 2023. https://taxfoundation.org/vapor-taxes-2022/.
“More than 3 Million Youth Reported Using a Tobacco Product in 2022.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. November 9, 2022. https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1110-youth-tobaco.html.
“Nicotine Vaping Now a Top Form of Teen Substance Use.” The University Record. Insititute for Social Research. Accessed February 26, 2023. https://record.umich.edu/articles/nicotine-vaping-now-a-top-form-of-teen-substance-use/.
“N-O-T: Not on Tobacco â€" Proven Teen Smoking and Vaping Cessation Program.” American Lung Association. Accessed February 26, 2023. https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit/not-on-tobacco.
“Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with the Use of e-Cigarette, or Vaping, Products.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, August 3, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html.
“Report: More and More Teens Seeing e-Cigarette Ads.” American Cancer Society, March 19, 2018. https://www.cancer.org/latest-news/report-more-and-more-teens-seeing-e-cigarette-ads.html#:~:text=Key%20findings&text=That's%2078.2%25%2C%20or%20nearly%204%20out%20of%205%20students.&text=The%20biggest%20source%20of%20e,to%20youth%20is%20retail%20stores.
“Results from the Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS).” U.S. Food and Drug Administration. FDA. Accessed February 26, 2023. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-tobacco/results-annual-national-youth-tobacco-survey.
“Talk to Your Child about Vaping.” Talk To Your Child About Vaping | American Lung Association. Accessed February 26, 2023. https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit/talk-about-vaping?utm_source=TalkAboutVaping&utm_medium=redirect&utm_campaign=AC_YVAP&utm_content=BRND_PSAC_EN_VanityURL.
“Vaping Devices (Electronic Cigarettes) .” National Institutes of Health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, January 12, 2023. https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/vaping-devices-electronic-cigarettes.
“Young People Who Vape Are More Likely to Become Smokers.” Truth Initiative. Accessed February 26, 2023. https://truthinitiative.org/research-resources/emerging-tobacco-products/young-people-who-vape-are-much-more-likely-become#:~:text=new%20research%20confirms-,Young%20people%20who%20vape%20are%20much%20more,become%20smokers%2C%20new%20research%20confirms&text=Young%20people%20who%20had%20ever,a%20new%20Truth%20Initiative%20study.
APPENDIX
Nearly 4 out of 5 middle and high school students are exposed to e-cigarette ads from at least one of these source.
The e-cigarette industry is largely unregulated, which has allowed companies to market and sell their products without restrictions. This has made it easier for young people to access and use e-cigarettes.
Recently almost 30 states and Washington DC imposed a tax on e-cigarettes, however there is still a need for stronger regulations to limit access to minors
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