In the past few decades, there has been a steady decline in teens smoking traditional cigarettes, reaching an all-time low in 2016 where 7.6 percent of high-school students where active smokers; however, the same can’t be said with e-cigarettes.
Electronic cigarettes have taken the tobacco industry by storm, presenting itself as a healthier and safer way to ingest nicotine in a controlled setting, making it easier for those addicted to cigarettes to wean themselves off the chemical. And yet, e-cigarettes/vape pens have been attracting the non-smoking youth more than anyone else. The rise in our children acquiring a nicotine addiction, inhaling off brand product and getting sick has caught the eyes of concerned parents and medical professionals alike.
The debate lies in the products themselves, I’m sure we’ve all seen the commercialization of vape pens on television or on the sides of skyscrapers in the Downtown area. The glamorization of nicotine is more than enough influence to drive the adolescent into illegally purchasing cigarettes and knock off versions of the “juice” that they inhale. What’s in the canisters is an absolute mystery. What matters is the amount of nicotine and, in some cases, the amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD) in the product, thus leading to illnesses. There have already been seven deaths at the hand of e-cigarettes and lung injuries in the hundreds.
It is strongly advised to never buy any canisters from the streets but what can be said for the products on the shelf? Although deemed a healthier alternative to smoking regular cigarettes, they are filled with harmful chemicals that cause cancer and does act to slowly quit smoking. Inversely, it could act as a gateway for teenagers to begin smoking cigarettes.
Ultimately, vape pens are relatively new, and the research is scarce. Once marketed as a harmless alternative is now shaking the world as more information begins to surface.
What are your thoughts about e-cigarettes? Do you believe that the panic over e-cigarettes is justified? Should there be reform in the tobacco industry? Let us know what you think in the comments down below.
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