A vape is a device that contains nicotine and other chemicals that are harmful to health. It can also lead to addiction and lung damage. It’s important to talk to kids about the dangers of vaping.
A vape device consists of a mouthpiece, an atomizer that heats up, and a container for the liquid (called e-liquid or e-juice) with flavors and nicotine. The device leaves little odor and is easy to hide.
It’s addictive
When you inhale vapor laced with nicotine, the drug is absorbed into the bloodstream and reaches the brain in just 10 seconds. It impacts the way neurotransmitters work in the brain, increasing dopamine levels and creating an addictive cycle. It can also cause mood swings and impulsive behavior, which can impact social relationships. In addition to Nicotine, vape liquids often contain irritants and carcinogens like formaldehyde, diacetyl, and acrolein. These chemicals can irritate the lungs and lead to chronic coughing and wheezing.
E-cigarettes are appealing to kids and teens because of their perceived safety and enticing flavors, including those that taste like fruit, candy, and desserts. These devices also don’t produce the unpleasant smell of cigarette smoke, which can make them easier to use in public areas.
Parents can help their children break the vaping habit by encouraging them to embrace hobbies and social activities. This can alleviate boredom and stress and may reduce the need to vape to cope with negative emotions.
It’s not safe
E-cigarettes (e-cigs) heat a liquid to make aerosols that users inhale. They also contain nicotine, which is addictive. Nicotine and other chemicals can harm the lungs. Even e-cigs that claim to be nicotine free can have nicotine, and they can expose users and bystanders to other harmful substances, such as toxins from acetone and heavy metals.
Vape devices have been known to explode, causing severe injuries and burns. They can also expose people to second-hand smoke. There have been many reports of sudden, severe lung problems and even death linked to e-cigarette use. This condition is called e-cigarette or vaping product use-associated lung injury, or EVALI.
It’s important for parents to know about the risks of e-cigarettes and other vaping products, particularly for their teenagers. They should also be aware of the debunked claim that e-cigarettes are 95% safer than traditional cigarettes. That’s not true, and it puts teenagers at risk for addiction and serious health problems.
It’s not a good alternative
Despite the fact that vaping may not cause as much damage as smoking, it’s not healthy either. The liquid that creates the vapor contains a high amount of nicotine and other chemicals, which can be harmful to kids and adults, especially when they swallow it or get it on their skin. Plus, e-cigarettes use a solvent called acetone to clean the devices, and this substance is harmful when it comes into contact with your eyes or skin.
The vaping craze among teens is growing, and it’s possible that the popularity of this practice could reverse years of hard work to curb smoking. It’s essential for parents to understand what the risks are, so they can talk with their children about this issue.
It’s not legal
State and city governments have been trying to ban or limit vaping for years. The latest push came in September, after key national data showed that teen vaping rates had skyrocketed, and as the number of mystery lung illnesses linked to vaping continued to rise.
Massachusetts governor Charlie Baker enacted the nation’s strictest ban, a four-month statewide prohibition on all flavored vaping products, including those made with marijuana, reports CBS News. New York quickly followed with an emergency rule to take flavored products off shelves, though that was blocked by an appeals court just days before it took effect.
In Illinois, the use of e-cigarettes and vapor products is prohibited in public and private schools, all campuses of state-supported institutions of higher education (including buildings, grounds, parking lots, and vehicles owned by those institutions), enclosed research laboratories, bars, restaurants, and workplaces where smoking is already banned. Municipalities may regulate vaping more stringently than the state.
