MILTON, WISCONSIN – As reported in an online article published by www.hngnews.com, e-cigarette use among adolescents, teenagers, and young adults has become a nationwide epidemic. E-cigarettes originally entered the marketplace as a smoking cessation product for adults to help them quit smoking tobacco cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes have become just as addictive or even more addictive than […]
E-cigarette vaping epidemic
MILTON, WISCONSIN – As reported in an online article published by www.hngnews.com, e-cigarette use among adolescents, teenagers, and young adults has become a nationwide epidemic.
E-cigarettes originally entered the marketplace as a smoking cessation product for adults to help them quit smoking tobacco cigarettes. However, e-cigarettes have become just as addictive or even more addictive than traditional tobacco cigarettes. Additionally, the market for e-cigarettes has shifted to a younger population – adolescents, teenagers, and young adults.
The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has not approved any e-cigarette device for use as a smoking cessation product, and the e-cigarette industry is not fully regulated. As such, e-cigarette manufacturers have marketed their products to a younger customer base, making the products seem safe and attractive with flavors such as cotton candy, gummy bear, and margarita.
While e-cigarettes do not have the same carcinogens that are present when smoking tobacco, e-cigarettes contain other harmful substances, including cancer-causing agents and heavy metals. Also, the amount of nicotine contained in 1 pod of e-cigarette liquid is equal to the amount in an entire pack of cigarettes. Many teenagers are using more than 1 pod in a single day, which can be very damaging to their health.
Because e-cigarettes have such a high nicotine content, and because teenagers are not aware of how much nicotine is contained in 1 pod of e-cigarette liquid, they are unknowingly becoming addicted to nicotine. The behaviors exhibited in addicted teenagers, according to some medical professionals, are much like those shown in people with serious substance abuse disorders. The high levels of nicotine in e-cigarettes can quickly become toxic and make users ill.
Juul, the most popular e-cigarette in the United States, contains the highest amount of nicotine than any other e-cigarette product. Also, the Juul e-cigarette looks like a USB drive, which makes the device more attractive to teenagers as they are more discrete.
Many teenagers are not only becoming addicted to e-cigarettes, but they are developing nicotine toxicity. One mother noticed the drastic changes in her son’s health and behavior resulting from his use of Juul e-cigarettes. Her son not only exhibited breathing difficulties, but he also had anxiety, mood swings, and frightening outbursts. Additionally, her son was diagnosed with restrictive lung disease after 3 years of vaping. The mother is now working with an attorney to file a class-action lawsuit against Juul to force Juul to establish treatment centers for addicted teenagers.
