6 Things you should know about vaping

Vapes, or e-cigarettes, were introduced as a healthier, non-addictive alternative to smoking cigarettes in about 2006. Since then, these battery-operated devices that produce vapour instead of smoke have exploded in popularity, particularly in young people.

What you might not be aware of is that vapes have never gone through a rigorous health and safety review, and there has been no testing. They are widely available and popularity is soaring, but there has been no formal investigation into the impact of vaping on our health. The testing is on the populace; now. Don’t worry, there are plenty of people making noise in this space, including Teen Challenge. For now, this is what we do know:

1. Young people who vape are four times more likely to smoke cigarettes when they are older than those who don’t. The hand-to-mouth action and the drawing of vapour into the lungs creates a muscle memory that predisposes them to picking up a smoking habit later on.

2. Vapes contain nicotine, just like cigarettes. And just as in cigarettes, nicotine is extremely addictive.

3. Vapes or e-cigarettes are being marketed at our young people. In 2015, the U.S. Surgeon General reported that e-cigarette use among high school students had increased by 900%, and 40% of young e-cigarette users had never smoked regular tobacco. This is particularly disturbing due to the rapid growth of the brain up until a person hits their mid-20s. Disrupting this process with nicotine use (which inhibits synapse formation) can result in serious, long-term health problems including memory loss, poor mood control and behaviour disorders.

4. Vape pen coils are laced with many harmful chemicals including acrolein (used in fertilisers and chemical warfare), formaldehyde (used for embalming bodies), diethylene glycol and heavy metals like nickel, chromium and lead. Read the research on this here.

5. Propylene glycol and diethylene glycol are ingredients used in vapes to create the appearance of smoke. They are the same chemicals found in radiator coolants to cool a vehicle’s engine. Look at the smoke from someone vaping and compare it with that of an overheated car engine and you’ll see the disturbing similarity.

6. As of March this year, the United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) revealed there have been 68 deaths and 2,807 cases of e-cigarette and vaping associated lung injury (EVALI). Daniel Ament is one such person who, after vaping for less than a year, required a double lung transplant and was on life support for 29 days. Read his story here.

So, there you have it, six things you should know about vaping, and I’m sure you’ll agree that it’s a compelling list to back the reality: vaping is dangerous. It took 120 years for researchers to show how dangerous cigarettes are. Let’s not wait that long this time. The evidence is already clear, which is why Teen Challenge Tasmania continues to deliver the truth about vaping and other addictive substances into schools across Australia in a way that is relevant and impacting for young people. Learn more about our NotEvenOnce program here.