E-Cigarette Use Among Youth : A Public Health Crisis
by KATHRYN VANCE
Before the year wrapped , the GLMS Foundation Senior Physicians Speaker Series welcomed their final guest of the year , Dr . Michael Bricken . Interim Chair , Dr . Sam Yared , introduced Dr . Bricken to speak on a major public health crisis facing today ’ s youth : e-cigarettes . Dr . Bricken is a University of Louisville School of Medicine graduate , where he also completed his residency and is now a pediatrician at East Louisville Pediatrics .
In 2019 , the Tobacco 21 laws were put into effect , raising the national purchase age across the country to 21 . In 2020 , the federal government passed a “ flavor ban ,” banning all flavors but menthol , excluding e-juice refill solutions and non-refillable , disposable devices . In 2021 , the Preventing All Cigarette Trafficking ( PACT ) Act was passed , making it difficult to sell e-cigarettes online .
The major draw for youth using e-cigarettes is targeted marketing that depicts them as less harmful than traditional cigarettes . E-cigarettes are targeted at youth with flavors like mint , fruit or candy , and often use social media and celebrity spokespeople . You don ’ t have to go far to find them either – e-cigarettes can be bought at convenience stores , mall kiosks and even dedicated vape shops , making them easily accessible for youth .
As many of us know , there is a youth mental health epidemic , especially coming out of the pandemic . Many youth are turning to vaping to deal with those stressors and anxieties and while the most common reason U . S . youth said they tried e-cigarettes was because a friend used them , the most common reason for continuing them is because of feelings of anxiousness , stress or depression .
In the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey , it was found that 14.1 % ( 2.14 million ) of high school students and 3.3 % ( 380,000 ) of middle school students reported current e-cigarette use . More than a quarter of those use an e-cigarette product daily .
First identified in 2019 , E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury ( EVALI ) is a serious medical condition in which a person ’ s lungs become damaged from substances contained
Dr . Michael Bricken in e-cigarettes and vaping products . Data supports findings that show that vitamin E acetate is closely associated with EVALI and is used as an additive , most notably in THC-containing products , and when inhaled , may interfere with normal lung function .
The role of the pediatrician in e-cigarette use is a new one , Dr . Bricken said , but starts with increasing awareness of risks and harms . It is important to be aware of the correct terminology and the correct questions to ask . Teenagers can be literal . Instead of asking “ do you use e-cigarettes ?” maybe consider “ have you ever tried a Juul product
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