What's an e-cigarette?
E-cigarettes are electronic versions of cigarettes. Tobacco in the from of nicotine is delivered to the user in a liquid that also contains flavorings and other additives. A battery is used to heat and aerosolize the liquid into a vapor. The act of smoking an e-cigarette is known as vaping. E-cigarettes are known by several different names such as vape pens, vapes, mods, e-hookahs, tank systems, and e-cigs.
The liquid or e-juice that is placed in the e-cigarette is sold in a variety of flavorings that are attractive to young people like bubblegum and fruit. Manufacturers of e-cigarettes are not currently mandated by law to test or disclose the ingredients contained in the liquids. In independent studies liquids that stated they did not contain nicotine, did in fact contain nicotine.
The liquid or e-juice that is placed in the e-cigarette is sold in a variety of flavorings that are attractive to young people like bubblegum and fruit. Manufacturers of e-cigarettes are not currently mandated by law to test or disclose the ingredients contained in the liquids. In independent studies liquids that stated they did not contain nicotine, did in fact contain nicotine.
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Many youth who use e-cigarettes believe that they are inhaling harmless water vapor. The truth is they contain much more than water and users are putting themselves at risk. There is no regulation on labeling so ingredients may be included that are not listed on the label, including NICOTINE. |
E-CIGARETTES & VAPING ARE
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Tobacco companies market e-cigarettes as glamorous.
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Flavor
E-cigarette liquids or e-juice comes in hundreds of flavors like bubblegum, vanilla, strawberry, grape, cherry, chocolate, coffee, cotton candy, gummy bears, menthol, cinnamon, and old fashioned tobacco. The candy and fruit flavorings are very attractive to young people and are often cited as a reason for vaping. These flavor additives have been approved as food additives for use with consumption in food and drink, but there have been NO tests or studies that look at what happens when these flavor additives are heated up and inhaled into the lungs!
Some of the flavorings entice users to vape deeper, longer, and more frequently than they would with a conventional cigarette. Because there is so much variation from manufacturer to manufacturer and little regulation it can be impossible to know how much nicotine is being inhaled.
People who vape continuously and inhale the same flavor repeatedly can develop "vaper's tongue" which is the sudden loss of taste.
Some of the flavorings entice users to vape deeper, longer, and more frequently than they would with a conventional cigarette. Because there is so much variation from manufacturer to manufacturer and little regulation it can be impossible to know how much nicotine is being inhaled.
People who vape continuously and inhale the same flavor repeatedly can develop "vaper's tongue" which is the sudden loss of taste.
The advertising is working!
The same big tobacco companies that sell conventional cigarettes manufacture e-cigarettes.
31.7% of teens in Mid Coast Maine reported using e-cigarettes in the last 30 days! |
E-cigarettes and vaping have increased in popularity among teens and young adults at unprecedented rates. According to the U.S. Surgeon General e-cigarette use has increased an incredible 900% among this age group from 2011 to 2015.
See the full report here: More teens are choosing to vape e-cigarettes rather than smoke cigarettes. |
E-cigarettes are a 2.5 billion dollar industry. The tobacco companies spend $125 million per year on advertisement. Currently there are no laws that restrict ads on e-cigarettes to youth.
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E-cigarettes are replacing cigarettes
The availability of several attractive flavors to choose from, perception that e-cigarettes are safe giving off harmless water vapor, exposure to advertising, celebrity endorsements, easy availability, and perception that vaping is cool and glamorous has increased the popularity of e-cigarettes exponentially.
E-cigarettes are creating a new generation of tobacco addicts!
E-cigarettes are creating a new generation of tobacco addicts!
E-cigarettes are linked to other tobacco use
Youth who use e-cigarettes are more likely to also use conventional cigarettes. Students who have used e-cigarettes by the time they start 9th grade are more likely than others to start smoking traditional cigarettes and other smoked tobacco products within the next year.
But what about e-cigarettes being used to quit smoking? Aren't they better?
The current research does not indicate that switching to e-cigarettes are more helpful to quitting successfully, and while being thought of as slightly safer, they are not harmless! E-cigarettes have a host of chemicals that are released in the vapor that have yet to be studied on how it impacts human health. Current users can be thought of as guinea pigs in a great experiment for which we do not yet have the answers. We do not know the long term effects of e-cigarette use either alone or in combination with other tobacco products. What we do know is that many of the chemicals in the vapor can cause health problems on their own. The current data also indicates that instead of quitting tobacco, e-cigarette users are commonly using both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. Or they are replacing conventional cigarettes with e-cigarettes but not quitting completely. There is little regulation regarding the amount of nicotine in e-juice or e-cigarette liquid. It is impossible to tell how much nicotine is being delivered with each inhalation, but the sweet flavorings and perception that the vapor is harmless encourages users to inhale deeper, longer, and more frequently, thereby increasing their nicotine delivery. Those who switch back to conventional cigarettes following e-cigarette use frequently find that they are smoking more cigarettes than before!
But what about e-cigarettes being used to quit smoking? Aren't they better?
The current research does not indicate that switching to e-cigarettes are more helpful to quitting successfully, and while being thought of as slightly safer, they are not harmless! E-cigarettes have a host of chemicals that are released in the vapor that have yet to be studied on how it impacts human health. Current users can be thought of as guinea pigs in a great experiment for which we do not yet have the answers. We do not know the long term effects of e-cigarette use either alone or in combination with other tobacco products. What we do know is that many of the chemicals in the vapor can cause health problems on their own. The current data also indicates that instead of quitting tobacco, e-cigarette users are commonly using both e-cigarettes and conventional cigarettes. Or they are replacing conventional cigarettes with e-cigarettes but not quitting completely. There is little regulation regarding the amount of nicotine in e-juice or e-cigarette liquid. It is impossible to tell how much nicotine is being delivered with each inhalation, but the sweet flavorings and perception that the vapor is harmless encourages users to inhale deeper, longer, and more frequently, thereby increasing their nicotine delivery. Those who switch back to conventional cigarettes following e-cigarette use frequently find that they are smoking more cigarettes than before!
Didn't Ace Your Last Exam? Tobacco Hurts Your Brain!
Did you know that your brain continues to develop until age 25 or older!
Nicotine affects developing brains, especially those of youth and young adults.
It can damage parts of the brain that control attention span and learning ability.
Be smart! Stop using tobacco to stop hurting your brain!
E-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is Tobacco!
Nicotine affects developing brains, especially those of youth and young adults.
It can damage parts of the brain that control attention span and learning ability.
Be smart! Stop using tobacco to stop hurting your brain!
E-cigarettes contain nicotine. Nicotine is Tobacco!
Effects of Tobacco or Nicotine From Vaping
Still think vaping and tobacco is cool? Think again! Take a look at these videos produced by the Bangor Public Health Campaign: |
E-cigarettes contain nicotine. When users stop vaping they can go through nicotine withdrawal. Withdrawal symptoms include:
Symptoms can last for a few hours to a few days to several weeks. For most people the first three to five days are the worst, followed by a gradual tapering of symptoms. The majority of people feel much better within a few weeks to a month. If these effects aren't enough, think about this:The batteries inside e-cigarettes have been known to blow up, exploding and catching on fire! This can cause severe injury and even death. Explosions have happened mostly during charging of the e-cigarette, but could happen while vaping too!
The liquid nicotine contained in the e-juice and e-cartridges can cause an overdose of nicotine. If spilled it can be absorbed by the skin or if ingested by children or pets it can prove fatal! The number of calls to the Poison Control Center has more than tripled since e-cigarettes hit the market! |