Quit like a champion! It’s time to kick the habit for good. And, we’re not just talking about a cigarette habit, but an e-cigarette habit, too. The American Cancer Society’s, Great American Smokeout on November 19, has always focused on tobacco use. But with the increased popularity of e-cigarettes, which contain nicotine, it is just as important to quit smoking them as well. Experts estimate that e-cigarettes could outsell tobacco products within a decade.
Even more troubling than the expected rise in popularity, the number of middle school students using e-cigarettes has started to increase. In 2013, 1.1 percent of middle school students reported using the devices, but the most recent survey results show that the number has increased to 3.9 percent. So, among two million middle school students, 450,000 of them are now using e-cigarettes, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Youth Tobacco Survey.
The usage among high school students is even higher. The same survey reported that among teens, there was an increase from 4.5 percent in 2013 to 13.4 percent in 2014 for use in the past 30 days.
Even though e-cigarettes were marketed as a way to help smokers quit smoking cigarettes, teens who smoke e-cigarettes may be more inclined to pick up real cigarettes, according to a study found in JAMA Pediatrics.
Trading one bad habit for another
While e-cigarettes don’t contain tobacco, they do contain the highly addictive substance called nicotine. In liquid form, nicotine can cause high blood pressure and a surge in heart rate. Adolescents using e-cigarettes are harming their bodies greatly; the liquid nicotine affects brain development.The body can experience withdrawal from nicotine, and users can begin to crave it once the nicotine wears off. This can lead to common symptoms such as depression, fatigue and irritability.
Why are teens and tweens using e-cigarettes?
Well for one, because the electronic devices are odorless when used, they can be used more discreetly than cigarettes. Another reason is due to the marketing of e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are portrayed as the “healthy alternative” to smoking and are more appealing to youth because of the fruity flavors of the liquid nicotine, such as Cherry Crush, Peach Schnapps and Vivid Vanilla.
Think your teen might be using?
Pay close attention to signs of use like a dry cough as well as mouth and throat irritations. Become familiar with what electronic cigarettes look like. Establish a no-tolerance policy in your home for the use of all tobacco products and electronic cigarettes. And be sure to educate your family on the dangers of nicotine addiction.
