Teens/Young Adults Vaping

What is a Vape/ E-Cigarette?

Vapes or also known as E-Cigarettes are devices that heat up liquid into an aerosol that the user inhales. The liquid that is being heated up and inhaled usually has nicotine and flavoring in it. E-Cigarettes are considered a tobacco product because they contain nicotine. The nicotine in E-Cigarettes is very addictive. With nicotine being very addictive, teens are more susceptible to addiction because their brains are still developing, which makes them more likely to adapt to getting addicted to nicotine. Besides nicotine, there are other harmful effects when vaping such as, ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, there is diacetyl, which is a chemical linked to serious lung disease. 

Vaping is a Normal Trend for Teens

The use of E-cigarettes is very popular with young people. The use of them has grown dramatically in the last five years. To this day high school students and college students vape more than smoke cigarettes. 

Most teenagers start vaping because of curiosity and wanting to fit in. They tend to get curious about vapes because of the people in their environment who vape and the different flavors each vape has.  

The Issue

The issue with young adults using vapes has been a problem in my community for many years now. To this day almost all college students that I see at my school use vapes. The reason that I want to talk about this issue is that not only are vapes affecting people my age but they are affecting my friends and even younger people. Some people that I know are vaping and they were either influenced by their friends or they were just curious into trying it.  

As a community, we should stop the next generation from smoking. E-cigs are so easy to come by here in the state of California, all you need to do is be of age to purchase them. It's honestly a tough situation because of its easy access. There are already movements helping prevent teens from smoking and there are also alternatives of vapes, some that don't contain nicotine. If we as a community help stop this issue we can help the next generation. 

Sources Cited: 

Know the risks: E-cigarettes & young people: U.S. surgeon general's report. E. (n.d.). Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, September 30). Quick facts on the risks of e-cigarettes for kids, teens, and young adults. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved November 8, 2021, from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html.