INDUSTRY INSIGHT
YOUR HEALTH
SPONSORED CONTENT
The DANGERS OF
E-CIGARETTES for
Youth and Young Adults
E-CIGARETTES AND YOUTH
E-cigarettes are very popular with youth, and their use is
growing dramatically. Today, more high school students use
e-cigarettes than regular cigarettes, and the use of e-cigarettes is
higher among high school students than adults. 1
According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, e-cigarettes
have been the most commonly used tobacco product among
youth since 2014. 2 FDA Commissioner, Dr. Scott Gottlieb, believes
this issue to be so serious that he has declared e-cigarette usage
among teenagers “an epidemic” and states that “the disturbing
and accelerating trajectory of use we’re seeing in youth, and the
resulting path to addiction, must end.” 3
WHAT IS IN AN E-CIGARETTE?
• E-cigarettes are devices that heat a liquid (usually containing
propylene glycol, glycerin, water, nicotine, and flavorings) into
an aerosol that users inhale into their lungs. You may have
heard other terms used when it comes to using e-cigarettes,
such as vaping or Juuling. What many kids and parents don’t
Not water.
Not safe.
Talk to your kids.
Tips available at
www.TobaccoFreeAllegheny.org/vape
For free help quitting, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW
realize is that this liquid is not water, and it is not safe. Not only
is the nicotine in e-cigarettes highly addictive, the e-liquid (also
called juice) contains harmful ingredients such as:
• ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
• flavorants such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung
disease, and
• heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead.
RISKS TO THE DEVELOPING BRAIN
Youth and young adults are uniquely at risk for long-term, long-
lasting, effects of exposing their developing brains to nicotine.
These risks include mood disorders, lifelong addiction, and
permanent lowering of impulse control. Nicotine also changes the
way synapses are formed, which can harm the parts of the brain
that control attention and learning. 4
HOW TO TALK TO KIDS ABOUT E-CIGARETTES
You have the power to influence your children’s decision about
whether to use e-cigarettes. Be clear that you don’t approve of
them smoking or using e-cigarettes, and that you expect them to
live tobacco-free. 5 Here are some tips:
1. Know the facts.
2. Be patient and ready to listen.
3. Set a positive example by being tobacco free.
If you’re currently using tobacco, quitting is the best thing you
can do for your health, and the health of your family members. For
free help, call 1.800.QUIT.NOW.
Youth who are vaping or using tobacco products should text
“Start My Quit” to 855.891.9989, or call to talk with a coach who can
provide information, help, and support.
ABOUT TOBACCO FREE ALLEGHENY
Tobacco Free Allegheny’s mission is to change the community
norms surrounding tobacco, making it uncommon to see, use,
or be negatively affected by tobacco or tobacco smoke pollution
(secondhand and thirdhand smoke).
Learn more at www.TobaccoFreeAllegheny.org.
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). National Youth Tobacco Survey 2011-2015.
Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/surveys/nyts/index.htm
2 Bach, L. (2018, June 19). Electronic Cigarettes and Youth. Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. Retrieved
from https://www.tobaccofreekids.org/assets/factsheets/0382.pdf
3 U.S. Food & Drug Administration. (2018, September 12). Statement from FDA Commissioner Scott
Gottlieb, M.D., on new steps to address epidemic of youth e-cigarette use. FDA Statement. Retrieved
from https://www.fda.gov/NewsEvents/Newsroom/PressAnnouncements/ucm620185.htm
4 U.S Surgeon General and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking
and Health. (2018). Know the Risks: E-Cigarettes & Young People. Retrieved from https://e-cigarettes.
surgeongeneral.gov/knowtherisks.html
5 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking and Health. (2018). Talk with Your
Teen About E-Cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents. Retrieved from https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.
gov/documents/SGR_ECig_ParentTipSheet_508.pdf5
SHALER ❘ WINTER 2019
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