HJNO Nov/Dec 2019

44 NOV / DEC 2019 I  Healthcare Journal of NEW ORLEANS column CHILDREN’S HEALTH A Surge in Adolescent Vaping: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE RISKS OF E-CIGARETTE USAGE FOR KIDS AND TEENS Addiction E-cigarette companies, like JUUL, were created as an alternative for adult cigarette smokers. Despite the fact that advertising of tobacco products to youth is banned in the U.S., e-cigarette companies are using indirect marketing tactics to promote vap- ing among teenagers. Many vaping devices are small in size andmimic the appearance of a USB jump drive, a pen, or a key fob, allowing teenagers to easily carry them to school and use them discreetly. Tobacco products found in e-cigarettes are becom- ing more accessible to youth through on- line websites that merely require a buyer to check a box stating they are 18 years of age or older. Statistics regarding vaping among our youth are alarming. The Centers for Dis- ease Control and Prevention (CDC) esti- mates that in 2018, 3.6 million adolescents were e-cigarette users. A study by the Na- tional Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that in 2018, a total of 21 percent of high school children and 5 percent of middle school children reported using an e-cigarette within the past 30 days. There is increasing evidence to suggest that vaping acts as a gateway to nicotine dependence and conventional smoking behaviors. Statistics show that those who smoke as young adults are more likely to become tobacco users in adulthood, as early nicotine use is linked to a greater in- cidence of addiction. Deadly Toxins and Side Effects E-cigarettes have a liquid-containing cartridge, which is usually filled with nico- tine, flavoring, and either propylene glycol or glycerol. In some cases, vaping liquid also contains THC or CBD oil. The liquid is heated into a vapor form and then in- haled into the lungs by the user. The vapor from e-cigarettes contains many harmful substances, like carcinogens and metals, which can cause injury to the lungs. In addition to pneumonia and lung damage, First, we saw reports of teen- agers eating Tide Pods and posting their dares on social media. Now, young people are engaging in the dangerous trend of “vaping”, or e-cigarette use. Unfortunately, it’s a trend that we are hearing about far too of- ten on the evening news. Videos and pictures of young people confined to hospital beds are surfacing left and right following their use of e-cigarettes. Some of those young people are in a comatose state, and some have even died. So, why is this hap- pening to our youth, and how can we stop it?