Vaping Risks and Rewards

2019-10-22 00:00:00 Alan Godfrey

Vaping of e-cigarettes is on the rise, especially with the teenage population from 2-3% in 2011 to 19-23% in 2018 (MMWR, Vital Signs: Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students, United States, 2011-2018). Participates may say the benefits are “feeling accepted” or being “calmed down.” This can be alluring in a teen and young adult population that is craving a quick solution or social connection. The more disconnected we are, the more connection we will desire.

The risks of vaping, according the US Surgeon General mostly stem from it’s addiction quality (to connection through a substance), and the chemicals it puts into the body. Here are just a few: nicotine; ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs; flavoring such diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease; volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which is found in car exhaust; and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.

So you can ask yourself, and help your child ask themselves, is the reward worth the risk? What other ways can they feel connected and accepted? Hopefully they will be open to other ways to calm themselves down or find what they’re looking for in vaping. Bring up the topic even if you think this doesn’t pertain to you. I wish you the best and encourage you to seek out more information here in these resources:

• https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/knowtherisks.html#risks
• https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/teen-vaping/
• https://drugfree.org/article/how-to-talk-with-your-kids-about-vaping/

Children and Teens, Addiction, Stress, Boundaries