Why is Vaping appealing to Teens? According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teens say they vape for many reasons. Curiosity is one - peer pressure is another.
In a national survey of middle and high school student who reported using e-cigarettes, 58% said they began vaping because friends or family members used them and they were enticed by the appealing flavors. Many liked the fact that vapes are discreet, easy to hide, and generally seen as cool and relatively harmless.
Vapes come in thousands of fruit and candy flavors that not only appeal to teens but also help cover the harsh taste of the chemicals and override a sense that these products may be harmful. Some young people are drawn to the "vape tricks" and "cloud competitions" where they form cloud-like shapes or patterns when exhaling vape aerosol. These tricks are usually performed with modifiable devices or "mod" style vapes. Users breathe the aerosol deep into their lungs then exhale it through their ears, eyes, or nose - this may produce a brief positive sensation or "head rush" that some kids like.
Vaping is made to look appealing by companies who engage strategic marketing tactics that include using social media influencers and exciting advertisements to entice young people. For example, JUUL was a widely popular device among those who vaped because they directly targeted social media for advertisements - going straight to the source where kids spend their time and receive information. JUUL employed similar tactics as old cigarette ads by glamorizing vaping through celebrity endorsements and fun ad campaigns highlighting appealing fruit and sweet flavored vapes. JUUL has decreased in popularity as most of its flavored vapes have been banned, but other illegal disposable flavored vapes have taken JUUL's place in popularity among youth.
Many vapes also contain high doses of nicotine - the main addictive substance in all tobacco products that can make those who vape become dependent. What may start as social experimentation can quickly become an addiction. This is because with repeated use, the brain gets used to having nicotine - which is especially harmful to young people as the adolescent brain is still developing until about age 25.🧠
In addition to harming brain development, nicotine exposure is also known to impact learning, memory, and attention...and increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.
Before they even think about vaping, help youth learn the facts and potential risks - knowledge is power! 💪
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