I just want to set the record straight, I am not here to tell you that you shouldn’t vape. Almost everyone at NC State is of legal age to vape and has every right to do so. That said, I want to tell you that vaping may not be as healthy as you may think.

E-cigarette companies like Juul market their products as a healthier alternative to cigarettes, and say that they do not cause any long-term health effects. However, this claim is not entirely accurate, because vape pods are still a new piece of technology, and research is still being done to determine if any long-term consequences exist.

But, from the research already conducted on e-cigarettes, scientists have discovered that there are chemicals in vape pods that may pose a concern to our health. NC State students should be aware of the potential health effects of vaping and determine whether they should continue to smoke e-cigarettes.

One of the significant concerns of vaping is that it can disrupt a student’s brain development. Although most college students are legally adults, our brains continue to mature until we reach age 25.

Nicotine, a substance found in most vape pods, can prevent synapses in our brain from forming connections, which can hinder our memory and learning abilities. In fact, one Juul pod contains an amount of nicotine equivalent to a full pack of cigarettes. As college students, we need healthy brains to protect our capability to learn new information.

Furthermore, vape pods still contain potentially harmful chemicals. For example, most vapes contain formaldehyde, a carcinogen. Most vape juices also contain diacetyl, which is linked to a lung disease called bronchiolitis obliterans.

Since vape pods and juices contain hazardous chemicals, we should consider the health risks before picking up a vape pod. Nicotine has the other issue of being an addicting chemical, meaning it can be challenging to stop vaping after doing it regularly.

Now, some proponents of vaping would argue that vaping does not cause any long-term effects. It is possible that this is true, but vape pods are still a very new product, and not enough research has been conducted to discover all of the health effects. However, those who vape are likely ingesting a few dangerous chemicals, and vaping could very well cause health concerns over time.

Students pick up a variety of unhealthy habits while at college, from strange sleep schedules to overconsumption of Cook-Out, but vaping could have impacts lasting well beyond the time spent at school. There’s an important distinction to be made between uncertainty in whether an activity is unsafe, and certainty that it is safe.

While vape companies may continue to push the latter message to drive up their profits, students should above all be cautious about vaping and stay up-to-date on current medical research. Past generations were misled by big tobacco about the health impact of smoking; current students should make sure they are acting deliberately and with full knowledge of the potential consequences before they decide to vape.