By: Robert Regler
Cigarette smoking is the largest cause of preventable deaths in the United States and has been labelled as an epidemic. In response to the rise in people deciding to smoke cigarettes, numerous alternatives have been presented in order to combat the epidemic. One of these alternatives are e-cigarettes. However, what was once created as an alternative to stop people from smoking has turned into a gateway for teenagers to become addicted to nicotine. Recent studies have shown that e-cigarettes have recently become young adults’ first experience using a nicotine related product. Rather than using these products for the intention of quitting smoking, people have been using them as a gateway into the world of nicotine addiction.
A popular misconception among teenagers is that e-cigarettes are simply harmless water vapor they are putting into their lungs. However, unknowingly teenagers are placing the same substances into their body as a conventional cigarette through the use of nicotine. These same teenagers who decided to use e-cigarettes have also admitted they would not have started using regular cigarettes. Rather than straying away from the original risk, teenagers have found an alternative risk that is arguably more dangerous.
Somewhere along the way there was a disconnect between the current generation of teenagers and the harm that e-cigarettes are capable of. As cigarette use among teenagers has been on the decline, the use of e-cigarettes has been on an unprecedented rise. The current perception is that e-cigarettes are less harmful than their conventional counterpart. Due to this misconception, people who would not have normally touched a regular cigarette are now diving into a world of addiction they normally would not have been exposed to. In order to combat this epidemic, the best thing we can do is educate younger people about the harm that e-cigarettes can pose.
The Southwest Council provides free presentations on drugs and alcohol for both parents, community members, and for schools. These presentations also include subjects such as e-cigarettes, their misconceptions and the harm they can cause. If you are interested in having a presentation, please feel free to reach out at (856) 794-1011 or visit us online at www.southwestcouncil.org.
Resources:
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/does-vaping-lead-to-smoking
https://www.keckmedicine.org/is-vaping-a-gateway-drug/
