[This article is part of a youth ministry series we have been writing about for years. Click the link to check out all of the other articles we have here.]
Vaping is definitely the new fad for nicotine and with this new instrument, there are a lot of unknowns. This can be problematic for counselors and church leaders, especially for one of the most under-reported populations, teenagers.
Yes, teenagers are using vaping and using it a lot.
So we wanted to give you ten facts to arm yourself when talking with teenagers, teachers, and parents. Hopefully these are relevant for you and make you all the more wiser.
What is vaping? Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often referred to as vapor, produce by an e-cigarette or other similar device. E-cigarettes are made of three parts: a cartridge containing liquid to be smoked, an atomizer and a battery. A popular vaping device, called a JUUL, looks like a USB drive and can even be charged through a USB port. E-cigarettes are also called e-cigs, vape pens, mods, pod mods or tank systems.
Vaping has been marketed as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes; however, many of the devices still contain a significant amount of nicotine, which is addictive, especially in teens and young adults. Additionally, other chemicals in e-cigarettes are more concentrated and could include carcinogens and other toxins. Some of the chemicals used to make certain flavors may also have health risks. Some teenagers are also using the vaping devices to smoke THC or cannabis oil. This is called dabbing.
- E-cigarette use
increased 78% among students during the last year. (CDC.gov) - Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the addictive drug in other tobacco products. (Office of the Surgeon General)
- Nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm brain development.
(Office of the Surgeon General) - More than 1 in 4 high school seniors reported vaping in the last year. (National Institute of Health)
- A single vapor pod containing 200 puffs can have just as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. (University of Michigan)
- Vaping chemicals used in the liquids can be more concentrated and dangerous. (Science News For Students)
- In 2016, 1/3 of U.S. middle and high school students who used e-cigarettes had used marijuana in the e-cigarettes. (JAMA Pediatrics)
- Teens who vape are 4x more likely to use marijuana.
(University of Michigan) - Students vape in parking lots, bathrooms, on the bus and even in classrooms.
- E-cigarettes require cleaning and can be used to consume illicit drugs. Borrowing another person’s vaporizer increases risk of exposure to illicit substance consumption.
