E-cigarettes were initially introduced in the United States as a way to help smokers quit using tobacco.
In the two decades since then, what we now know as the practice of “vaping” has established itself as a way to send harmful chemicals to your lungs. It can become a habit that, like traditional tobacco products, can become addictive and dangerous to your health.
Of particular concern is its popularity with youth. E-cigarettes are now the most common tobacco product used by American high school students. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 10% of high school students used e-cigarettes in 2023.
Statistically, the 10% marks an encouraging decline by more than half a million teenagers over the year before, but usage remains up considerably over the last decade.
In short, there is work to do in educating youth and adults in the ways vaping is harmful.
Stephanie Hanson, M.D., a pediatrician at Sanford West Fargo Clinic, has provided health care to young people for almost two decades. She has witnessed vaping’s emergence as a significant health threat for those 18 and under.
She has answers for those who want to know more about what vaping is and its harmful effects.
Is vaping bad for you?
In a word, Dr. Hanson answers with an emphatic “yes.”
“A majority of vape products contain nicotine, which is a known addictive and harmful substance,” Dr. Hanson said. “But besides nicotine, there are a number of other harmful compounds released through vaping. Chemicals like formaldehyde or herbicides that are used primarily to kill weeds – known carcinogens – are inhaled into the lungs. These chemicals can also contribute to cardiovascular disease.”
How does vaping affect your lungs?
Vaping represents an invitation for these e-cigarette chemicals to enter the body and the bloodstream.
“The lungs are very prone to irritation and inflammation,” Dr. Hanson said. “If you think about those microparticles that are being delivered deep into the lungs when you’re vaping, there’s a potential there for that to cause a really severe inflammatory reaction. This can happen with nicotine vaping products but it’s probably even more common with THC vaping products.”
Are there warning signs that could indicate your child may be vaping?
The same parental instincts that work in detecting other forms of illicit behavior can apply in determining whether a son or daughter is using vaping products.
“Are they having mood changes? Is there a change in their academic performance? Are they losing some long-term friends, or gaining new friends you’re not familiar with? Are you noticing changes in their sleep or their appetite or noticing they’re more irritable?” Dr. Hanson said.
“All those things can indicate something is going on with your teens. As a parent you need to have the radar up for these kinds of behaviors.”
How many kids are vaping?
According to the CDC, in 2023, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students in the United States.
In 2023:
- 1 million (7.7%) students currently used e-cigarettes. This includes:
- 550,000 (4.6%) middle school students.
- 56 million (10.0%) high school students.
- Among students who had ever used e-cigarettes, 46.7% reported current e-cigarette use.
- Among students who currently used e-cigarettes:
- 1 in 4 (25.2%) used an e-cigarette every day.
- 1 in 3 (34.7%) used an e-cigarette on at least 20 of the last 30 days.
- 9 in 10 (89.4%) used flavored e-cigarettes.
- Students who currently used e-cigarettes:
- Most often used disposable e-cigarettes (60.7%) followed by e-cigarettes with prefilled or refillable pods or cartridges (16.1%).
- Most commonly reported using the following brands: Elf Bar, Esco Bars, Vuse, JUUL, and Mr. Fog.
“Anecdotally as a pediatrician, I’d suspect it’s more widespread than statistics are telling us,” Dr. Hanson said. “I talk to a lot of kids about vaping – even young kids. We are seeing kids who are in sixth or seventh grade experimenting with vaping. There are forms of vaping readily available and shareable among peer groups of that age, so kids have easy access to it.
“It is important to note that this includes THC products, in addition to those that contain nicotine. We’re also seeing that vaping is increasing marijuana usage.”
What resources are available to people who want to quit vaping?
If you want to quit or if you are a parent encouraging their son or daughter to quit, the place to start is a conversation with your doctor or with your child’s doctor.
“We can definitely point you to resources that are readily available,” Dr. Hanson said. “One I recommend frequently is ‘My Life My Quit.’ It is available for teens and young adults. It’s free and it’s typically text-based, so teens can enroll easily. It’s not judgmental and it provides one-on-one help to those who are interested in quitting. It’s good for adults, too.”
As a doctor, what do you find most concerning about vaping?
“No. 1 is the addictive quality of nicotine,” Dr. Hanson said. “It’s one of the most addictive substances out there and we know it can definitely interfere with your normal thinking process, your mood and your release of dopamine.
“In particular, as a pediatrician I worry about vaping nicotine by our youth. For those whose brains are still developing, the potential for harm is even greater because it can lead to more problems later on with an ability to focus and cognitive function.”
Dr. Hanson stressed that an addiction to nicotine can bring about physiological harm as well. The potential is there for serious lung injuries among young vapers. It can also lead to types of cancer and damage to cardiovascular health in the long-term.
Ultimately, what should parents’ message to kids be on vaping?
“Start having a conversation with your kids about vaping early and often,” Dr. Hanson said. “Right out of the gates, make sure your children understand you think vaping is dangerous and you don’t want them doing it.
“Some people might think talking to your 8-year-old is too early. It’s not. Chances are an 8-year-old already knows what an e-cigarette is. They might not know the nuances of what it’s all about but they’ve seen them and they’ve seen the teens in their life use them.”
Learn more
- Quit smoking or using tobacco: A how-to for your health
- Vaping illness: Sanford Health warns against e-cigarettes
- Why substance use can worsen mental health
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Posted In Children's, Family Medicine, Healthy Living, Internal Medicine
