Teen Vaping: The Cloudy Crisis Part 2
The use of vaping devices and e-cigarettes among teenagers is exploding throughout the nation, and here in Colorado.
The latest studies show nearly half of Colorado teens say they have tried it.
Many people believe e-cigarettes are safer than regular cigarettes, but experts say vaping comes with its own risks, and it could impact young users more.
KRDO spoke with several teenagers who say they vape regularly, or have tried it. These teens say they have noticed the growth in popularity, and the decline of regular cigarette usage.
“For us teenagers it’s just like a trend, it’s something that’s cool to do and they end up doing it,” one student said.
For many of these products, sellers market vaping devices as a safer alternative to regular cigarettes, even saying it can help smokers quit the habit.
A new study from Dartmouth College says it can also work the other way around.
Researchers found that for every smoker who quits cigarettes for vaping, 81 times as many teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to eventually move on to a regular smoking habit.
We already know that vaping increases the possibility of addiction, but researchers say it also causes long-term harm to brain development and respiratory health for teens.
Doctor Matthew Blum, the surgical co-director of oncology at Memorial Hospital in Colorado Springs says he has noticed an increase in patients who vape.
“Some people say, well, how safe is it? And I wouldn’t say how safe is it, but how risky is it and what are the risks that are involved,” said Dr. Blum.
While vaping devices typically do not have some of the ingredients that are known to be harmful in regular cigarettes, it is the other, ingredients that are in vaping fluids that haven’t been tested enough to know all of the risks.
John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health tested several styles of e-cigarettes, and found that many of the products, when used, released toxic levels of metals in the vapor like lead, chromium, manganese and nickel.
These are just a few of the initial testing results, with more to be learned, with scientists trying to determine the full scope of the risks.
“It may be better than it is with regular cigarettes, but it’s not likely to be zero. There is likely to be some effects.
Another part of this that makes it so concerning, is the regulations surrounding these devices, and lack- thereof.
With many of these devices filled by the user, there’s no way to regulate how much nicotine is being consumed, or how flavor combinations could increase risk.
The Food and Drug Administration announced last week that it is cracking down on e-cigarette sales, especially to kids.
The FDA announced the new initiative called the Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan.
It is aimed at understanding why teens are so attracted to these devices, and the best way to deter them.
We expect to see more information about that in the coming months.
