Electronic Cigarettes: A Long-Term Problem Of Teen Smoking

Electronic cigarettes have been around for about a decade. No one is sure of what havoc they can cause yet because of how new they are in existence. Throughout the past years more and more issues have been arising from this product that was originally assumed to be harmless. Now we are faced with the question are they really as safe as we thought or should increase investigation to see what they are really capable of. So far researchers have discovered many issues with the electronic cigarettes and every month more and more issues begin the surface the air. From explosion to toxic material. These issues will not only affect their

The popularity of e-cigarettes and vapes has grown exponentially within the last couple of years. These two alternatives offer a “safe” way to consume nicotine or just a substitute to regular cigarette smoking. These products omit water vapor instead of tobacco smoke, constructing it as less of a health risk. Nicotine can be added to the mixture to help quit smoking or offer a healthier option to those with nicotine dependence. There has not been widespread research on conventional e-cigarettes, in addition to data on vapes been relatively premature. These smoking devices have not be regulated by the FDA yet, but the FDA has looked into e-cigarettes and its contents (FDA, 2015). Many e-cigarettes that are thought to be free of nicotine, have

The profitable business of electronic cigarettes has raised over $3 Billion dollars annually, vastly spread across over 466 brands which have joined the ordeal. Above all, known as a “gateway drug”, electronic cigarettes have claimed the once-ordinary lives of people, specifically to those who have turned from tobacco cigarettes. What is more, scientists have determined that not enough research has been executed to automatically assume the healthiness of e-cigarettes. Despite this, many have claimed that e-cigarettes, are, and will be the new “healthy” drug, so to speak. Provided that e-cigarettes do not release harmful smoke, they are still not safe for one’s health given that not enough research has been performed on them.

This, along with lung cancer, chronic bronchitis, and emphysema are results of the consumption of tobacco. The author also explains the other factors tobacco has that can lead someone into addiction such as irritability, problems paying attention, trouble sleeping, increased appetite, and powerful cravings for tobacco. This information is important for our project because it describes the effects tobacco can have on someone. The author also states that consuming too much tobacco can lead to an overdose. Although it is not common, it can happen because nicotine is a dangerous

E-cigarettes have exploded onto the scene in the past three years. Whole stores dedicated to these devices have opened their doors to the public and business is thriving. E-cigarettes are battery-charged devices that have an atomizer, or heating element, in them to vaporize liquid nicotine. The user is able to inhale this vapor and get the nicotine without the other 4,000 chemicals present in tobacco cigarette smoke (Schroeder). Nicotine is a chemical that is produced by the tobacco plant. People have discovered that by smoking the leaves of a tobacco plant the nicotine in the leaves is delivered into the bloodstream. Nicotine by itself is not an awful drug as far as drugs go, although it is highly addictive, it is the tar in cigarettes that does so much damage. Tobacco use remains the number one preventable cause of death in the U.S. with 480,000 Americans dying prematurely from tobacco related disease. Kicking this habit remains difficult for most (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services). Mark Twain once wrote “It’s easy to quit smoking, I’ve done it hundreds of times.”

It is undeniable that the popularity and usage of electronic cigarettes or personal vaporizer devices have been on the rise since they first gained the public’s attention in the early twenty first century. In fact, one study by UBS Securities LLC shows that the value of the e-cigarette market has doubled or more each year since 2007 and was expected to double from two hundred and fifty million dollars in 2011 to five hundred million in 2012(7). Some of the growing concerns is that, like the tobacco market when it first started growing in popularity, there has been little research conducted on the long term effects of electronic cigarettes. Other causes for concern stem from the marketing and sale of these devices to teenagers. This is why the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to impose restrictions and regulations on the use and sale of these devices and conduct further research on the health related effects and long term effects of their usage.

Every year, an estimated 443, 000 Americans die of smoking related illnesses, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC also states “the leading cause of preventable death” is smoking. ("Smoking & Tobacco Use-Fast Facts”). Relatively new to the market are electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes. “Vaping”, as it is known by users, has become increasingly more attractive as an alternative to traditional, cancer causing, cigarettes. Although sales of e-cigarettes are estimated to reach $2 billion dollars (Dennis, Brady) this year, many Americans still have reservations about the safety of a new nicotine delivery system.

People are lead to believe that electronic cigarettes do not contain tobacco and that they are safer than real cigarettes. Little do they know, electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigs, expose their inhalers to harmful and toxic gases that cause health problems and harm the lungs. In most cases the solvent in an e-cig is considered “food grading,” which means it should be safe enough to eat, but manufacturers are changing the configuration of the solvent so it contains both the flavoring and nicotine. As a person inhales, the flavored liquid flows through the e-cig and as it passes over hot coils the liquid changes into a gas. The more frequently an e-cig is used, the toxicity of the fumes increases. Nicotine is always added to the starting

According to FDA, conclusive tests carried out on samples from two popular brands revealed that there were significant amounts of nicotine and toxic chemicals that might pose a threat to the health of passionate consumers. In fact one of the substances discovered in the test was a carcinogen (cancer causing agent). Following these epic revelations, the FDA issued a statement warning consumers about the likelihood of experiencing health risks after using the product. Therefore in light of this, many pundits in the health fraternity have raised the red flag on the use of e-cigarettes to counter smoking. Here, it is important to note that FDA only regulates e-cigarettes that are sold for therapeutic purposes

Nicotine is another factor in the controversy regarding teen vaping. Evidence suggests that teenagers are more vulnerable to nicotine because the pre-frontal cortex of the brain does not mature until adulthood. This means exposure to nicotine may lead to psychiatric, social and attention-deficit disorders as an adolescent grows. It also encourages addiction to nicotine.

Did you know that 1.8 million middle and high-school students have said that they have tried an electronic cigarette in 2012? An article from Upfront Magazine titled “Smoke Signals” by Alessandra Potenza has brought up the issue of e-cigs. The electronic cigarette may be seen as a safe alternative for the traditional smoker but poses a threat to the younger generations who try them. Heavy advertisement and a wide variety of flavors are attracting young kids to get the product. The e-cigs could potentially lead the young people into trying real cigarettes and getting addicted to them due to the nicotine and having the urge to smoke.

Underage smoking is a serious problem as because most smokers start smoking before age eighteen (Leatherdale et al, 2011). As nicotine, the element in cigarette is addictive, once one starts to smoke it is hard for him or her to give it up. Additionally, most teenagers believe they will give up smoking once they are tired of it; unfortunately, most of them become lifelong smokers. If we could stop

Teenage smoking can be a result of the influence of other teens, or maybe the amount of peer pressure. This can cause a teen to want to smoke or even think about smoking (Alcid, Arthur, page 1). Statistics show that 794 student and 22.4 percent of teens claimed to be tobacco users. (Alcid, Arthur, page 1). Teens tend to be more abrasive when smoking, and seem to act different while smoking and once they have gotten into the habit of smoking make it a constant thing. In 2003, 21.9 percent of high school students currently smoke cigarettes (Alcid, Arthur, page 1).

One of the largest issues today is adolescent smoking. According to a heath based website, nearly 90% of adult smokers start while they are still teens and they never intend to get hooked. They may start by bumming a cigarette or two from a friend at a party, and then go on to buying an occasional pack. Soon they realize that they can't go without that pack. They've gotten used to reaching for a cigarette first thing in the morning, after meals, or during any stressful time. They become addicted, both physically and psychologically. According to the American Lung Association, each day 6,000 children under the age of 18 smoke their first cigarette. Almost 2,000 of them will become regular smokers – that’s 757, 000 new smokers annually!

Tobacco; one of the most profitable products in history, an addictive substance, and a deadly killer. Smoking tobacco used to be a thing that was endorsed in American society. Now, with the new medical advances and knowledge, society has seen the side effects of smoking and how fatal it actually is. Teenagers have been one of the largest age groups that have been affected by smoking. After analyzing all possible reasons as to why teenagers would smoke while knowing it can affect their health, three possible reasons stuck out the most. Teenagers smoke despite knowing the health problems that originate from smoking because of peer pressure, an “invincibility” mentality, and seeing a role model or family member smoke.