Ashlynn Barrera
Hammett
English 1302
7 May 2019
The Epidemic of Vaping
There you are, standing in the room
of a crowded party, when you suddenly see an unfamiliar smoke in the air, that
has a somewhat pleasant smell. You look around and discover that is coming from
a new small item called a JUUL. A JUUL? What does that mean and where did this
tool come from? The issue of using e-cigarettes, also known as vaping or
JUULing, has spread rapidly throughout the United States, especially through
teenagers and young adults. Though it may seem as simple as inhaling water
vapor, the increased use of an e-cigarette can lead to nicotine addictions in
those whose brains are still developing and can have detrimental effects though
it appears to be a “harmless” tool compared to the normal cigarette (Knowles
and King 1). Though society may not
realize it, this is an epidemic that has already had a large impact on the
world, and if we do not seek ways to end it, young adults and teenagers could
face dire consequences.
The epidemic of the use of
e-cigarettes, also known as vaping, is a relatively new one. According to
Deputy Director at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Brian King,
“E-cigarettes are... electronic devices that deliver typically nicotine and other
additives in the form of an aerosol” (Knowles and King 1). They differ from
cigarettes because there is no combustion during use, “It is electronic and it
is based on a liquid that is heated to produce an aerosol and so you don't have
all the harmful products have that part of combustion,” (1). Commerical
e-cigarettes were first introduced to the United Sates in 2006, and by 2008,
the World Health Organization proclaimed that they did not consider the
e-cigarette to be a smoking cessation aid (“Historical Timeline of Electronic
Cigarettes.” 1). By 2008 they were banned by the FDA and not allowed at U.S.
entry points. However, the US Government granted the FDA the authority to
regulate these products under the Act of Congress of Smoking Prevention and Tobacco
Control in 2016, meaning they could finally put policies in place to address
e-cigarette use (1). In May 2016, specifically, it was made law that the
e-cigarette could be commercially bought at a minimum age of eighteen across
all states (1). However, despite the legal issue, the use of e-cigarettes rose
tremendously in the last decade. According to the FDA, more than three million
minors were current e-cigarette users in 2015, increasing by over half a
million from the previous year (Stein 1). As of 2015, 16% of high school students at 5.3% of middle
school students used e-cigarettes, making them the most commonly used tobacco
product among youth (1). In just the period from 2011-2015, e-cigarette use
rose 15.5% among high school students, with the primary surveyed reason being
the availability of appealing flavors (1).
This reason has increased highly
with the recent invention of the JUUL. A JUUL is a “battery operated device
that looks a lot like a computer flash drive.” (Freedman 1). Because they are
small enough to fit in a fist or a pocket and because they are so sleek, many
adults, specifically parents, have a hard time recognizing that it is a type of
e-cigarette (1). JUULs also create the typical aerosol that traditional
e-cigarettes do, and come in a variety of flavors, including mango, mint, and
fruit medleys (1). This attracts teenagers and young adults to want to smoke
them. Though illegal, the reported use of JUULs in high school or college
campus settings has increased dramatically, through sharing or dealing of
devices. Because JUULing has become so easily accessible and increasingly
popular among young people, major risks have been presented that we must try to
put a stop to.
The epidemic of vaping and its rapid
increase have dramatically changed the nation. One effect of vaping in the U.S.
is the rise of nicotine addictions in young adults. Because it is so easy to access JUULs, more
teens nationwide are prone to developing these addictions. According to John-Anthony Fraga of the National Center for
Health Research, “The concentration of nicotine in JUUL is more than twice the
amount found in other e-cigarettes", which is extremely dangerous in
teenagers and young adults as nicotine has harmful effects on the developing
brain (Fraga 1). Because the risk of developing addiction is so high after the
use of e-cigarettes, the U.S. Surgeon General has in fact stated the use of
nicotine by youth in any form is unsafe (“JUULING: Get The Facts” 1). The
increase of vaping has resulted in damages to the health of the nation’s youth.
As well as exposing adolescents to
addiction, the use of e-cigarettes can have harmful consequences for the
planet. E-Cigarette-Politics.com reveals that the lithium batteries commonly
found in e-cigarettes, if improperly disposed of, release toxic chemicals into
the environment (Price 1). Though more e-cigarette companies are beginning to
adapt to larger, rechargeable batteries, the growth of e-cigarette sales with
the current lithium batteries outweighs the production of the new batteries
(1). Luckily, the other parts of the e-cigarette show no present harm to the
environment.
Though the use of e-cigarettes has
been proven to be beneficial for many, it has proven to be detrimental for some
young adults. Recent stories concerning vaping included one story about a young
father’s whose experience with vaping was far from ideal. The parent from
Surrey, England, was attempting vaping in replacement for traditional
cigarettes, but the attempt ended in a nightmare. While inhaling, the nicotine
juice was not heated properly, and instead of being inhaled as an aerosol, was
inhaled as liquid, which ended up burning a hole in father’s lungs (Shelton 1).
To this day, the father still has irreversible lung damage and has to occasionally
rely on an oxygen machine to breathe properly (1). It is true that cigarettes
would have caused harm to the lungs, but this story proves that vapes and
e-cigarettes can be just as, if not more harmful to the body.
Similarly, the use of a vape and its
harmful effects on teenagers has made recent news. Fifteen year old Luka Kinard
of High Point, North Carolina, abused JUUL devices, and began selling his
clothes and shoes in order to afford the $150 weekly expense of JUUL pods (Dunn
1). Kinard’s grades began to plummet; he was having rapid and random outbursts
and his parents grew concerned (1). Kinard blamed his family and school for his
change of attitude and not the use of nicotine. However, when Kinard suffered
from a seizure, it was revealed that he was suffering from the “epidemic of
e-cigarette use” (1). Soon after, Kinard spent forty days in an addiction
rehabilitation program, as his use could be categorized as “substance abuse” by
insurance companies (1). Fortunately, Kinard returned to his normal activities
and behaviors after about three weeks into rehab, and he realized the caliber
of what he had done. Kinard stated that “he just wanted to fit in” as a
freshman, and that JUULing was more attractive to him than traditional
cigarettes (1). Now, with the consequences highlighted, it will be easier for
Kinard, and the rest of America’s youth, to put an end to the use of
e-cigarettes.
The use of e-cigarettes, also known
as vaping or JUULing, is an epidemic that has swept the nation throughout the
last decade. Though the epidemic only seems to be increasing, there has proven
to be some solutions to stopping the use of e-cigarettes in teens and young
adults.
One major solution to reducing the
use of e-cigarettes of adolescents is utilizing media campaigns. Campaigns such
as the Truth Initiative focus primarily on revealing the dangers of e-cigarette
use, and try to convince teens to stop relying on vape tools (“How to Keep Kids
and Teens from Smoking and Vaping.” 1). However, with the exception of family-based
and education-based settings, these campaigns have proven to be quite
ineffective (1). This is because teenagers tend to gravitate towards what is
“cool” and “trendy”, which the majority of the time, is falling into the
temptation of vaping.
Another major solution to ending the
epidemic of vaping in teens is to restrict the access of e-cigarettes, vapes,
and JUULs to adolescents. According to NBC reporter Maggie Fox, “Teens living
in cities or towns that more strictly policed retail sales of tobacco products
were a third less likely to try cigarettes or e-cigarettes as those living in
areas with more lax regulation” (Fox 1). One way that the nation can reduce
access to e-cigarettes is by raising the legal age of purchasing such materials
from 18 to 21. This will have a positive impact on many young adults as it will
“significantly reduce the number of adolescents and young adults who start
smoking; reduce smoking-caused deaths; and immediately improve the health of
adolescents, young adults and young mothers who would be deterred from
smoking,” (“Raising the Tobacco Age to 21.” 1). Raising the age to 21 would be
critical, because the ages from 18 to 21 is when most smokers transition from
experimental smokers to regular smokers, as many have already experimented
before they turn 18 (1). If it is illegal to consume e-cigarette products until
a person has reached 21 years of age, it will likely delay the experimental
process in young adults, preventing nicotine addictions from forming in a
still-developing brain (1). Increasing the age of e-cigarette use from 18 to 21
would also prevent tobacco or vape-based companies to cater to young adults the
way they currently do now over commercials and flashy advertisements, as they
could face legal issues for illegally promoting their products (Fox 1). This solution is likely the most beneficial
to solving the epidemic, however, it does have its loopholes. Despite the legal
age of use being increased, teens will still likely find a way to access
e-cigarette products. According to Fox, “Specialty vape shops are often not
regulated at the same level as other tobacco retailers,”, and online vendors
present ways for minors to feasibly obtain products illegally (1). Sadly, even
with laws implemented, it is likely that teens with already developed
addictions will discover ways to access their desired products. This reliance
on e-cigarette tools provides a clear viewing of the epidemic in the U.S. that
needs to be amended.
Author, journalist, and activist
Albert Camus had an interesting and complex way of thinking. One of Camus’
major philosophies in life was that “tragedy is inevitable”, meaning that no
matter the life endured by a person, something is bound to have a negative
result (Aronson 1). This relates to the vaping epidemic, because despite
campaigns being utilized to reduce the use of e-cigarettes, teenagers are bound
to continue to abuse them. This principle also applies to the epidemic, because
no matter the amount of times a vape or JUUL is used, whether it be a one-time
user or a regular smoker, there is bound to be some damage or tragedy done to
the growing body. Another idea proposed by Camus was the idea that “The only
way to deal with an unfree world is to become so absolutely free that your very
existence is an act of rebellion.” (1). The quote reveals that Camus felt that
the world is restrained, and you simply can not live an enjoyable life until
you break the boundaries set by society. This idea slightly applies to the use
of e-cigarette products, because the primary reason many teenagers vape or JUUL
is because they want to fit in and have purpose among their friend groups. They
feel restricted by their parents and rebel against them to feel a purpose in
their life, though it may not always be the most successful for the teenager in
the end.
If Camus were to witness the epidemic of
vaping in the present day, he would likely not have a large reaction. Camus
himself was a consistent cigarette smoker, and because he believed death had to
be accepted before living began, it is imaginable that he was highly aware of
the risk of using cigarettes, and would not see e-cigarettes as any different
(Zaretsky 1). In fact, he might see them as freeing and relieving, not as
absurd at all.
Reliance on e-cigarettes by young
adults and teenagers throughout the past decade has increased immensely. The e-cigarettes commonly used by teenagers
today are detrimental to their health, as “Most e-cigarettes contain
nicotine—the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco
products...Nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain. Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts
of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control”
(“Quick Facts on the Risks of E-Cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults |
CDC.” 1 ). Because the number of young vape users is only increasing, this can
be considered a national epidemic. There are solutions to decreasing the
epidemic’s relevance, which must be utilized by adults and non-vaping
adolescents to ensure that teenagers do not damage their bodies or their
futures because of a drug that was, at first, seemingly harmless and fun.
Works Cited
Aronson, Ronald. “Albert Camus.” Stanford
Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Stanford University, 10 Apr. 2017,
plato.stanford.edu/entries/camus/.
Dunn, Hannah. “E-Cigarettes,
Especially Juul, May Be Doing Something Odd to Kids.” NBCNews.com,
NBCUniversal News Group, www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/vaping-sent-teenager-rehab-his-parents-blame-juul-s-heavy-n956356.
Fox, Maggie. “Study Shows How to
Stop Teens from Getting Hooked on e-Cigarettes.” NBCNews.com,
NBCUniversal News Group, www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/how-stop-teen-vaping-make-e-cigs-harder-get-n955811.
Fraga, John-Anthony. “The Dangers of
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Freedman, Hannah. “The Latest Vaping
Trend Parents Need to Know About: JUULing.” Center on Addiction, 19 Apr.
2018, www.centeronaddiction.org/the-buzz-blog/latest-vaping-trend-parents-need-know-about-juuling.
“Historical Timeline of Electronic
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“How to Keep Kids and Teens from
Smoking and Vaping.” Www.heart.org, www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking-tobacco/how-to-keep-kids-and-teens-from-smoking-and-vaping.
“JUULING: Get the Facts.” HealthyChildren.org,
www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/tobacco/Pages/Juuling-Get-the-Facts.aspx.
Knowles, John, and Brian King.
“Learning and Action Network (LAN): An Interview on E-Cigarettes and Vaping.” Atom
Alliance, Atom Alliance, 11 Apr. 2017,
atomalliance.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2017ODL_ASB1_An_Interview_on_E-Cigarettes_and_Vaping_transcript.pdf.
Accessed 12 Feb. 2019.
Price, Chris. “The Impact of Vaping
On Individuals And Society.” The Impact of Vaping On Individuals And Society,
www.ecigarette-politics.com/the-impact-of-vaping-on-individuals-and-society.html.
“Quick Facts on the Risks of
E-Cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults | CDC.” Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html.
“Raising the Tobacco Age to 21.” Campaign for
Tobacco-Free Kids, 18 Apr. 2019, www.tobaccofreekids.org/what-we-do/us/sale-age-21
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