One in Five
That is the most current statistic of past 30 day use of electronic cigarettes among our high school students in the United States as of 2020.
This number is staggering, in December of 2018, the Surgeon General issued an advisory that declared youth electronic cigarette use an “epidemic.” I cannot stress this enough, it is so much more than that.
E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among our youth today. The tobacco industry has made it their mission to addict a new generation to tobacco products, and they have done just that. They have created products that are slick, appealing, easily accessible and discreet. From the Juul, which looks nearly identical to a USB to flavors such as bubble gum, gummy bears and cotton candy. They have found ways to make sure that these products end up in the hands of our youth, all the while older generations are unsure of the signs and devices they should be looking for.
During the month of May, The Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition plans to educate our community on what the dangers of e-cigarettes are and also what to look for in terms of products but also health consequences. E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among our youth today, so it is pertinent that we spread awareness and education.
Below are some quick facts from the CDC as to what e-cigarettes are:
· E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol.
· E-cigarettes come in many different shapes and sizes.
· E-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars or pipes; however, some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items.
· Different names for e-cigarettes are e-cigs, hookahs, mods, vape pens, vapes, tanks, or ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems).
E-cigarettes and nicotine are harmful to youth because 99% of e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is an addictive drug found in regular cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products. Nicotine can harm the developing brain and using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control. Correspondingly, youth that are using nicotine may increase their risk for future addiction to other drugs.
I will be hosting a Parent Edition of “The Truth about E-Cigarettes” on May 19th at 7:00pm via Zoom, though it says Parent Edition, all are welcome.
Let’s prevent the next generation from getting addicted to tobacco products. To learn more visit www.gratiotdrugfree.org.
Emily Rayburn
Gratiot County Substance Abuse Coalition Coordinator
