Should we really be concerned with teenage e-cigarette use?

E-cigarettes are electronic devices that turn a flavored nicotine liquid into an
inhalable vapor. Over the past decade, the devices have been marketed as
healthier alternatives to smoking traditional tobacco products.

E-cigarette advocates point to the way the devices deliver nicotine without any
of the harmful additives found in regular cigarettes as justification for their
benefit and safety. But are they truly safe? Should we really be concerned with
teenage e-cigarette use?

Why the question matters

Teenagers are taking up e-cigarette “vaping” at an alarming rate compared to
other tobacco products. Decades of targeted legislation, taxation and
advertising have communicated the message that cigarettes are dangerous, and as
a result, cigarette smoking rates continue to fall.

On the other hand, e-cigarette use has accounted for the highest percentage of
teenage tobacco product use over the past three years running. While teens view
these products as less-harmful alternatives to traditional cigarettes, there is
a rising correlation between teenagers who “vape” and those who eventually try
cigarettes.

The facts about e-cigarettes

The larger problem is that, as with any new product, there is very little
research into the health impacts of e-cigarette use on the human body. While
reports like this one
from U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy are starting to emerge, we are decades away from long-term studies like the ones that blew the roof off of the harms caused by the tobacco industry.

What we do know is that e-cigarettes deliver the drug nicotine into the body.
The effects of nicotine have been studied, but often in conjunction with the act
of smoking. As a result, there remains an ongoing debate about the degree to
which nicotine itself, removed from a tobacco-based delivery method, is truly
that harmful.

Most of the arguments hinge on the fact that nicotine, while a drug, is a
stimulant comparable to caffeine; in limited quantities, nicotine is not going
to kill anyone (although exploding e-cigarette devices have come
close).

The problem with this argument is that it discounts one of the undeniable harms
associated with nicotine: it is an incredibly addictive substance.

Addiction is dangerous

This is where the conversation should really start and stop when it comes to
e-cigarettes (or any drug, for that matter): in the long run, addictions ruin
lives.

There is no such thing as a safe addiction. Addictions, by their very definition, rewire the brain to prioritize substance use over all else, often at the expense of emotional stability, relationships, and behavioral control. There is no circumstance whereby a chemical addiction is an advantage.

Addictions consume attention, money, and the ability to cope independently. Any
parent would agree; these are not three areas teenagers can afford to impair.

While it may be easy to make the case that e-cigarettes are a safer addiction
than tobacco products based on what we know now, it is impossible to make the
case that being addicted to something is better than being addiction free.

Having the conversation about e-cigarettes with your teen

In all likelihood, your teenager knows what e-cigarettes are. The very act of
“vaping” has become a cultural niche complete with its own YouTube stars and
ridiculous events like trick competitions and “world championships” (think smoke
rings on steroids).

One of the best things you can do as a parent is to educate yourself about not
only the science of e-cigarettes, but the realities of how vaping has become so increasingly prevalent in today’s
society. Only then can you have a conversation with your teen that is steeped in
something more than blanket scare-tactics or an unsubstantiated zero-tolerance
policy.

Rather than taking an aggressive approach to addressing e-cigarette use with
your teen (and given the dangers you may very well feel a desire to), take an
informative and compassionate one. Share with them the dangers of addiction and
help them understand that you are coming from an authoritative place of love
and support ,
not a heavy-handed authoritarian one. In some cases, the very notion that you
know about “vaping” may take away some of the cool-factor and be off-putting
enough to a teen who might be tempted to try it.

Ultimately, as a parent, you want the best for your child. Discouraging
addictive behaviors is not an easy task in today’s temptation-filled world, but
it is an important job that can help ensure your teenager can live a long and
healthy life free from the shackles of dependence.

How have you broached the topic of addiction with your teen? Share your advice with our readers in the comments below.