Nicotine addiction is something that the U.S. has dealt with since its first moment of consumption. In the 1970s, Congress passed legislation to ban advertising for cigarettes on TV and radio, drastically curbing the consumption of nicotine. Because of the campaigns aimed at putting an end to smoking, the percentage of youth who use nicotine products is at an all-time low.
This number was expected to keep lowering, but now those numbers may be taking an unexpected turn for the worst.
American youth are slowly becoming addicted to nicotine again, but smoking is not the cause. The hot trend of vaping is addicting more youth to nicotine than cigarettes could ever dream of. Vaping has developed somewhat of a subculture within American youth. Vaping products like the Juul, a very simple to use e-cigarette that resembles a cigarette, consistently sell-out because of the craze around them. A report done by the CDC showed that the amount of teens who used e-cigarettes went from 1.5 percent in 2011 to 11.3 percent in 2016.
If you know any vapers or are one yourself, then you must be accustomed to the plumes of fruity scented vapor that come with the product. For those who are not as acquainted with the hobby, it is essentially the same act as smoking, but instead of taking in the nicotine through lighting the product, it is consumed through the electronic process within the e-cig that creates that vapor. The process is enjoyable for vapers because of the flavors that can be used when vaping, but also because of the nicotine rush that is felt.
As a result of its increasing popularity, vape shops have spread all across the nation with particular attention to areas with high young adult populations. These hazy stores are filled with massive arrays of e-juices and vape pens to reward a vaper’s addiction. A hotspot for vapers at NC State is Good Guy Vapes Raleigh, a vape shop that lays claim to a spot on Hillsborough St.
While the culture may seem exciting and entertaining, vapers should be warned that their new addiction may not be as harmless as it’s advertised. Many boast that vaping is a healthier alternative to smoking because it does not lead to cancer, but this may not be the case. An article in Scientific American explained that vaping also produces carcinogens; in addition, the vapor contains silicate particles, a substance that leads to lung disease.
Developing cancer or some form of lung disease from vaping is a long-term risk that comes with chronic use, but the effects of nicotine addiction and withdrawal are a serious consequence that vapers deal with immediately. Some of the most detrimental symptoms of nicotine withdrawal for college students are headaches, difficulty concentrating and insomnia. A number of academic struggles could emerge from having these symptoms, or already-held problems could be exacerbated while going through withdrawal.
Studies have also showed that the plumes of vapor produced are not as harmless as once thought. Secondhand vaping, a practice believed to only leave pleasant scents and vapor, has actually been attributed to worsening the condition of indoor air quality. Vapor is reported to increase the concentration of aluminum, nicotine, and particulate matter in the air. These leftover products have been linked to lung and cardiovascular disease, as well as cancer.
It’s not necessary to stop vaping altogether; however, vapers should be made aware of the risk they are taking every time they hit their vape pen or e-cig. The act may indeed be better than smoking cigarettes, but negative long-term effects are a very real possibility as well as developing an addiction to nicotine in the short-term.
