E-Cigarette & Vape Risks
Young people who use e-cigarettes are 4X more likely to start smoking cigarettes than their peers who do not vape. E-cigarette use among young people has skyrocketed in recent years and remains at epidemic levels. Many kids who experiment with vaping, wouldn’t choose to smoke commercial cigarettes and don’t consider themselves smokers, but are finding themselves addicted nonetheless.
Various e-cigarette devices from left to right: Puff Bar, Air Bar Max, POD, Vuse, JUUL, Suorin Air Open Pod, Joyetech e-Vic-VT Vape MOD, Glas Pod System, NJOY.
The Surgeon General says e-cigarette use poses a significant—and avoidable—health risk to young people in the United States. Besides increasing the possibility of addiction and long-term harm to brain development and respiratory health, e-cigarette use is associated with the use of other tobacco products that can do even more damage to the body. Even breathing e-cigarette aerosol that someone else has exhaled poses potential health risks. Here are some additional facts to keep in mind:
- Most e-cigarettes contain high levels of nicotine.
- Nicotine damages the part of the brain responsible for impulse control, attention, learning,and memory. This damage is irreversible.
- Nicotine is extremely addictive. Because addiction is a form of learning, adolescents can get addicted more easily than adults.
- Teens who use e-cigarettes are 4X more likely to start smoking, which causes even more lifelong health problems.
- 60% of young e-cigarette users want to quit.
E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth in the United States. Unfortunately, it’s likely these numbers will continue to rise as more national and state data is released and e-cigarette manufacturers develop sneakier tactics for targeting youth.
The good news is that many young people want to quit and the South Dakota QuitLine can help anyone 13+ kick the habit for good.
For more information on the youth vape epidemic:
Help stop nicotine addiction in its tracks.
The SD QuitLine helps users age 13 and older quit using tobacco or e-cigarettes.
Encourage teens and young adults to enroll in our coaching program or request a Kickstart Kit. No matter which option they choose, they’ll be provided with confidential, consistent, and nonjudgmental support to kick the habit. The QuitLine’s Quit Coaches are supportive advocates trained to help people plan and stick to a quit path.
If you are unable to download files or access tools on this website, it may be due to your facility’s firewall protection. Ask your IT administrator to whitelist BeFreeSD.com so you have access to this important anti-tobacco information. For further questions, please reach out to the SD Tobacco Control Program.