Teen vaping trends are a growing concern. In 2023, 2.1 million young people in the U.S. were vaping, with many using flavored e-cigarettes. These devices, often easily concealable enough to blend in with school supplies, have become the most popular tobacco product among adolescents, fueled by aggressive marketing.
Experts are raising red flags about the health risks. In a recent Psychology Today article, Dr. Mark Gold warns, "Many young adults and teenagers who vape believe they have made a healthier choice compared to smoking cigarettes. But the reality is far more concerning." Vaping devices heat a liquid into an aerosol inhaled into the lungs, exposing users to harmful chemicals and toxic substances.
Jessica Hulsey, with the Addiction Policy Forum, adds, "Contrary to early claims that vaping had health benefits, we’ve found harmful ingredients in vapes, including ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs, flavorings linked to serious lung disease, and toxic metals like nickel, tin, and lead." These substances can cause irreversible lung damage, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer.
Vaping marijuana is also on the rise among teens, delivering higher doses of THC and increasing the risk of psychological effects, including psychosis. Hulsey warns, "Vaping cannabis carries significantly increased risks, producing greater physiological and psychological effects than smoking cannabis."
The full article can be accessed here.
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