Could it be true that the e-cigarette industry has a ploy behind vaping - to lure the young people, particularly the girls, to start at an early age?
Should parents be alarmed by the "sneaky marketing tactics" - flavors like "fruit loops" and bright colorful packaging, which resembles pens and make-up, of the e-cigarette industry as more young Australians are noticed to have become addicted to vaping?
The Australian communities are said to be swamped with vapes, which ABC News described as "highly addictive and toxic products" that are affecting the physical and mental health of the young people.
It is high time for parents to be alarmed as young people who vape expressed that they feel "a sense of dependence or addiction" to vape's chemicals. Further, there is rising evidence of risk to cancer and heart and brain tissue damage. There have also been news about the device's batteries exploding inside the mouths of teenage users.
Thus, parents are encouraged not to sit back and just wait for the government to take action. Parents should help and protect their children from this health threat that is rapidly spreading.
What is a vape or an e-cigarette, and what is inside it
E-cigarettes, or more popularly called as vapes, are "battery-operated devices that usually work by heating a sticky liquid until it becomes an aerosol - turning a viscous gel into a plume of tiny particles."
This sticky liquid, also called the "e-juice," is contrary to what they say as a harmless water vapor. According to the American Lung Association, this "e-juice" contains nicotine extracted from tobacco, propylene glycol, flavorings and other chemicals, and when this is heated up, a lot more toxic chemicals are created.
Moreover, studies have discovered that even those vapes claiming to be free from nicotine still contain trace amounts of nicotine.
Read Also: Cigarette Smoking Is Less Popular Among Teens While Vaping Population Increases
Dangers of vaping
The lungs rely on breathing in fresh and clean air, which powers the body and the brain, so just imagine if the lungs are breathing in toxic chemicals?
The e-cigarette industry commercially calls these devices "vapes" because they want to make users think that they are just breathing in vapor. In reality, however, the smoke is an "aerosol full of toxic chemicals," which puts toxic particles deep in the lungs, causing inflammation, progressing the risk and severity of respiratory conditions such as asthma, and the possibility of significant, long-term disease.
Moreover, parents should be aware that the vaping industry is manufacturing their products without any regulations on their contents and without specification in their labeling. Thus, there are no quality and safety standards for these devices.
E-cigarettes also consist of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and acrolein. These are substances known to cause cancer. Other chemicals can also cause DNA damage.
The "e-juice" of vapes, if swallowed or contacted to skin, can poison children and adults.
Teens may turn to vaping to deal with their stress or anxiety, and this creates a cycle of nicotine dependence. Ironically, nicotine addiction is actually a source of stress. Worst, nicotine can harm the "developing adolescent brain," the Center for Disease Control and Prevention shared. Here's a fact, the brain continues to develop until the age of 25.
Parents should also know that the tobacco and e-cigarette companies are using social media extensively, marketing these devices to their teens and young adults. In fact, these companies do vape challenges in TikTok and YouTube to promote vapes.
Parents are encouraged to start discussing vape to their children. Include e-cigarettes in their serious conversations about alcohol, smoking and drugs with kids. It is never too early to start these discussions.
Related Article:Teen Vaping Rates Rise in the United States, Nears Pre-Pandemic Levels
