Vaping involves the absorption of nicotine and chemicals into the lungs that cause a variety of lung and mental health problems. Despite age restrictions in many states, many kids still get their hands on vape products.
How vape products work
The term “vaping” describes the inhalation and exhalation of an aerosol produced by a vape device. These devices include the following:
- E-cigarettes
- Electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS)
- Tank systems, often called “tanks” or “mods”
- Vape pens
Many of these devices are small and look like flash drives or ink pens. Some vape devices imitate traditional smoking products such as cigarettes or cigars. Vape products often contain a battery, a heating element, a cartridge or “pod” that contains the e-liquid, and a piece for the user to put their mouth on. The power source, often a battery or rechargeable mechanism, heats the liquid when the user inhales on the mouthpiece. This produces an aerosol that’s inhaled into the user’s lungs and then exhaled into the air.
Contrary to popular belief, this aerosol is not just water. It contains nicotine, chemicals and flavorings. When users inhale the aerosol into their lungs, they’re absorbing these substances into their body.
Is vaping bad for you? The answer is yes.
Not only is the nicotine in vape products addictive, but users are ingesting dangerous chemicals that cause lung damage. These chemicals can irritate pre-existing conditions such as asthma.
There are several reasons why vaping is bad for you.
- Aerosol produces dangerous primary and secondhand emissions. Vaping is often appealing to users because there’s no cloud of smoke created by traditional cigarettes. Yet the aerosol produced by vaping is filled with dangerous chemicals that are harmful to users and those who inhale it secondhand.
- Brain development slows with nicotine. Nicotine can cause permanent changes to a child’s developing brain. Changes in mood and impulse control may be permanently affected by vaping.
- Chemicals are in e-liquids. Vape liquids contain chemicals and toxins like traditional cigarettes. The chemicals in e-liquids or cartridges such as formaldehyde, the herbicide acrolein, heavy metals and glycols can cause long-term lung damage. They also cause conditions such as lung cancer, asthma and lung injury.
- Future tobacco or drug use. Research indicates many young people who begin vaping often move on to other forms of tobacco or drugs.
- Nicotine is a stimulant. Nicotine causes increased heart rate and high blood pressure. This can lead to heart attack, stroke and cardiac illness.
Vaping is bad for mental health
Nicotine withdrawal can cause a variety of mental health issues. Since users are consuming high amounts of nicotine while vaping, they often become addicted. When the brain doesn’t get the nicotine it craves, symptoms of withdrawal begin. Long-term use of nicotine from vape products creates a greater risk for depression, anxiety and irritability.
Many young people may begin vaping as a way of coping with feelings of stress or depression. Yet symptoms of nicotine withdrawal often include problems sleeping and concentrating. A lack of sleep can make mental health conditions worse.
When it comes to mental health, vaping can create a dangerous cycle. Initially used to manage unwelcome feelings, young people may become addicted to the nicotine in vape products which makes them feel worse.
Flavors target young people
Currently, there are more than 15,000 flavored vape products on the market today. Flavors such as cotton candy, blueberry cake and tropical fruit swap the ashy taste of cigarettes for something more appealing.
Advertisements for flavored products are featured on youth-oriented television and in magazines. These flavors make vaping more tempting to young people. According to the American Journal of Health Behavior, 84 percent of young people who vape began with a flavored product.
The flavors in vape products contribute to:
- Further exposure to chemicals because flavoring liquid also contains toxins
- Greater numbers of young people trying and becoming addicted to vaping
- Marketing that targets minority communities and youths
The FDA has attempted to ban the use of flavored and menthol tobacco products throughout the United States. Recently, flavored tobacco was outlawed in the state of California. In cities where the flavor ban was initiated, the sale of flavored tobacco products fell by 96 percent, limiting young people’s access to dangerous tobacco and vaping products.
How to talk to your kids about vaping
Talking to your children about vaping and tobacco products is important. Young people see advertisements or news stories about these topics often. This can be a helpful way to open the conversation or gauge their feelings on the topic. It’s important to have these conversations more than once. Your child’s understanding of or feelings about the topic can change over time.
If your children are asking if vaping is bad for them, and you aren’t sure how to begin the conversation, here are a few suggestions.
- Skip the lecture. It may be tempting to share all the facts and dangers of vaping with your children. However, be open-minded and ready to listen.
- Focus on health. Keep the conversation focused on how vaping impacts your child’s health.
- Ask open-ended questions. First, it’s important to understand what your child knows about vaping and tobacco use. Asking what they think about it, answering their questions and providing safety information is a good place to start.
- What if they’re already vaping? If you find out your child has tried vaping or is actively vaping, try to understand why. What made them start? What do they like (or not like) about vaping?
- Set house rules and stick to them. Let your child know what the family’s expectations and house rules are. Clearly explain the consequences of breaking these rules and then make sure to stick to them.
- Remember to be a resource. Help your children learn to say no to offers of vaping or tobacco use through role-play scenarios. Additionally, engage your children in healthy activities, especially those that help manage mental health. Be the example—if you smoke or vape, it might be a good time to quit.
More to Read
- How to Quit Smoking and Reduce Your Risk of Lung Cancer
- Should I Take My Child to the Emergency Room?
- Why is Respiratory Syncytial Virus Rising in Children?
- Parenting and Mental Health: Building Your Toolkit
Medically reviewed by Katrina Roux-Bernstein, MSN, CRNP, and Jason Heavner, MD.
