March 1

Dakota March

Ms. Wilson

English II Honors

May 10th, 2019

Teen Vaping

In today's society, teenagers are constantly surrounded by the influences of vape

products, which is currently at an all-time high. It is harming teens around the world and it is

only getting more popular. Vaping comes from an electronic cigarette, otherwise known as

E-Cigarettes. E-Cigarettes is a handheld device that runs on juice, typically packed with the

aerosol that contains nicotine. These come in the forms of Juuls, Novos, Nords, Pandas, Sourins

and many more. In the US alone, nearly 12% of high schoolers vape; whereas, the Center for

Disease Control and Prevention states that almost 1 million middle and high school students used

tobacco products in 2017 (CDC). With that number rising exponentially, one must be concerned

about the overall health of society with this detrimental device being on the market.

Vaping is a problem for middle and high school students, damaging the lungs and in turn,

can cause futuristic brain damage to younger users (Real Farmacy). Vaping​ raises the blood

pressure of the user and spikes their adrenaline, which increases the heart rate along with the

likelihood of having a heart attack (Johns Hopkins Medicine). Although ​stores and companies

have reduced the usage of underage vaping by making it illegal to purchase under the age of 18,

it is still overly easy for teens to still get ahold of these products, and pass them along.

Vape usage has also been happening inside of schools in the bathrooms. The American

Academy of Pediatrics warns the public that the scent of mint or mango flavors are attractive to
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kids, exposing many teens in large numbers, drawing more into this stubborn trend. ​Robert

Keuther, principal at Marshfield High School on the south shore of Massachusetts states: “we’ve

seen significant increases across the student body. This is not something specific to one group of

kids. It’s across all of my grades, nine to 12. It’s all students.” (New York Post). ​With

adolescence particularly vulnerable to addictions and habits, it is not something that should be

introduced into a public area such as a high school. Schools have tried to prevent it by giving a

suspension if caught doing it on school property also taking the device. Since vaping is

notoriously difficult to detect in schools, many students have found tricks and strategies to get

away with it.

Vape products, with respect to smoke products, may seem like a quick and easy

alternative for smokers who are trying to lean off the excessive tobacco in order to decrease their

chances of lung and gum cancer. Things such as JUULS appear to have less harsh effects when

compared to cigarettes. The amount of tar that is entering one's body is decreased little to none in

vapor. Furthermore, the claim that nicotine also reduces things such as anxiety and stress, has

been found very often as an excuse.

Although the opposing information has it's outlooks, electronic cigarettes are just as

addictive as traditional ones. Therefore, E-Cigarettes can be just as bad and has it’s health

defects as well. Electronic cigarettes are just as addictive as traditional ones. In fact, research

suggests that nicotine may be as addictive heroin and cocaine (Hopkins). Although they have

been marketed as an aid to help you quit smoking, e-cigarettes have not received Food and Drug

Administration approval as smoking sensation devices.

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Concerning the adult users, vaping may be an alternative to smoking tobacco but 75% of

vape products contain tobacco substances. It is not a safe alternative in general since the effects

E-Cigarettes can have on one's body is still very bad. It has many chemicals and defects to it as

well. E-cigarettes contain propylene glycol, glycerol, nicotine, flavorings, water, and additional

chemicals. In some tests on vape liquids, the chemical formaldehyde was found. Formaldehyde

is a chemical that causes cancer.

Nicotine found in vape liquids also can cause harm to the brain. Studies show nicotine

can make the brain more receptive to the effects of other drugs. It can cause one to seek more

pleasure than just nicotine if they start getting bored with it. The younger audience is more likely

to use and adopt an addiction to drugs. The reason for that is because when younger users stop

getting that nicotine sensation they usually got when they started. That is because they are

adapting to it so they will want something stronger.

Nicotine also has a bigger effect on younger users, if they start under the age of 18 and

their brains are still developing, it can create a malfunction the brains natural processes. Once

addicted to nicotine, it is very hard to stop. ​Youth who would have never smoked otherwise, are

taking up this habit. It’s one thing if someone converts from cigarette smoking to vaping. It’s

quite another thing to start up nicotine use with vaping. This often leads to using traditional

tobacco products down the road (Blaha). ​ Peer pressure is a big thing with the start of these

addictions. It happens in almost every high school or middle school. It is a considered “cool”

thing to do now. They try it and that's where it starts, the nicotine is strong enough to get them

hooked already from their first try.

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In conclusion, vaping is not good for any age. It is tougher on adolescence brain and

knowing how to stop. Adults usually use it as a rebound from tobacco products. Once hooked on

nicotine for all ages, it is extremely tough to stop. Vaping has health defects such as lung and

brain damage. Those that are already subjected, and have submitted to vaping, ​the sooner they

quit, the quicker their body can rebound and repair itself. Talk to a doctor about what smoking

cessation program or tools would be best.

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Works Cited

Associated Press. “Teens Have Figured out How to Be Sneaky While Vaping in School.”

New York Post​, New York Post, 29 Apr. 2018,

nypost.com/2018/04/29/teens-have-figured-out-how-to-be-sneaky-while-vaping-i

n-school/.

Ducharme, Jamie, and Emily Barone. “For American Teenagers, Vaping Is the New

Smoking.” ​TIME Magazine​, vol. 192, no. 1, July 2018, p. 25. ​EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,custuid&custid=s845

5861&db=a9h&ARaloff, Janet. “The Dangers of Vaping.” ​Science News,​ vol.

188, no. 1, July 2015, p. 18. ​EBSCOhost​, doi:10.1002/scin.2015.188001019.

“E-Cigarettes: A Dangerous Trend: The Growing Popularity of Vaping Devices Is

Putting Teens’ Health at Risk.” ​New York Times Upfront,​ vol. 151, no. 8, Jan.

2019, p. 20. ​EBSCOhost,​

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,custuid&custid=s845

5861&db=mat&AN=134269779&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

“E-Cigarettes: The Health Risks of Vaping.” ​NBCNews.com​, NBCUniversal News

Group,

www.nbcnews.com/better/health/better-cigarettes-vaping-comes-its-own-set-healt

h-risks-ncna819716.
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“E-Cigarettes: What You Need to Know.” ​Junior Scholastic,​ vol. 117, no. 11, Mar. 2015,

p. 22. ​EBSCOhost​,

search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&AuthType=ip,custuid&custid=s845

5861&db=mih&AN=101775591&site=ehost-live&scope=site.

N=130272403&site=ehost-live&scope=site

“5 Truths You Need to Know About Vaping.” ​Johns Hopkins Medicine Health Library​,

www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-

know-about-vaping​.
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