There has been an extreme increase in vaping among adolescents in the last decade. Most vapes and e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive substance. Nicotine causes increase in blood pressure, heart rate and narrows heart arteries. It also can lead to the hardening of arterial walls which can lead to a heart attack. Even though adolescents are young, they are not immune to these effects of nicotine. Nicotine use can harm actively developing brains of these adolescents and contribute to addictions of other drugs later on in life.
Vaping has also been associated with acute respiratory distress which is extremely dangerous amongst adolescents. Shortness of breath, chest pain, cough and fever are also effects of using nicotine. Adolescents have also experienced lung lesions. This is a serious condition that includes inflammation of the alveolar spaces and can contribute to permanent lung conditions.
Primarily, what makes vaping so attractive to young adolescents is the product innovations, youthful and fun flavoring and packaging. The legal age to purchase vapes and other e-cigarettes is age 21 in Massachusetts. Fortunately, due to the vaping epidemic among adolescents, there have been stricter regulations regarding vaping. However, there are still ways for adolescents to obtain vapes and e-cigarettes. The easiest way to prevent addictions to vapes among adolescents is to not start using vapes yourself. Education of the intense dangers of vaping is a sure way for adolescents to know of the long-lasting dangers of vaping.
Camouflaged Vaping Devices Are Getting Past Parents and School Staff
The vaping hoodie. The vaping smart watch. USB jump drives. Vape pens, backpacks, phone cases, oh my! All ready to deliver a puff of nicotine (or marijuana) anywhere, anytime. The vaping market is crowded with sleek, camouflaged devices that have teachers and parents struggling to monitor illicit usage of a product that has surged in popularity among school kids. You might want to give that new computer mouse, that you didn’t buy, a second look.
Christine Burke is an Intern at Boston Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention Program
