What Effect?
With electronic cigarettes flying off the shelves in stores and online, health experts and organizations are sounding the alarm on potential health risks and what they see as questionable advertising techniques targeted at teenagers.
Both the FDA and the Wolf administration have released statements warning of the effects e-cigarettes can have, while doctors urge users to quit.
Dr. Kar-Hai Chu, assistant professor of medicine and pediatrics at the University of Pittsburgh, said one the biggest concerns about e-cigarettes is how little is really known about them. “There are no long-term studies,” he said. “The FDA has very little regulations on them. When you ask me what chemicals are in them, I can't tell you because there are so many of them.”
E-cigarettes burst into the mainstream during the last few years, as sleek designs and fruity flavors captured the imaginations of customers looking to enjoy the feelings and benefits afforded by nicotine but without the stigma of cigarettes.
But there were some other factors at play, said Chu, that organizations like the FDA are increasingly concerned about.
First is the widespread misconception that e-cigarettes are an effective way to help people stop smoking.
While there may be anecdotal evidence in which people claim to use e-cigarettes to quit smoking, on the whole, Chu said e-cigarettes have been found to be counterproductive to quitting.
“They're constantly promoted as a (cigarette smoking) cessation device,” Chu said. “Studies have shown that people who try to quit with electronic cigarettes end up as users, smoking and using e-cigarettes.”
Even worse, some studies have shown e-cigarettes can lead non-smokers to pick up a cigarette habit, sparking concerns that cigarettes may see a revival after years of decline, especially for younger users.
“One JUUL (company) cartridge contains the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes,” Secretary of Health Dr. Rachel Levine said in release by Governor Tom Wolf's administration. “Once a teen begins using e-cigarettes, it is often very difficult for them to stop, and it is a decision that can affect the rest of their life. A conversation must take place about just how dangerous vaping is.”
Additionally, e-cigarette companies have come under increased scrutiny for what some believe to be an advertising campaign that targets minors.
Chu said he sees this through both social media and traditional marketing campaigns.
“The fact that so many teenagers have seen an ad, it's more than a coincidence,” he said. “The flavors are appealing to teenagers.”
Young people are especially vulnerable to the effects of e-cigarettes, Levine said.
“Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a highly addictive drug that can harm brain development, which continues until about age 25,” Levine said. “Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to go on to use regular cigarettes. If you have a problem with vaping, there are resources available to help you.”
And while most teenagers are too young to buy the product in stores, there are ways to buy them online or from friends at school, Chu said.
In addition to the risks inherent in ingesting nicotine, Chu said e-cigarette users may be at risk for other adverse side effects like the device exploding in your hand or lung inflammation, also known as popcorn lung, which can be caused by the flavoring in the vapor.
For more information about the risks of e-cigarettes for youth and other resources, visit e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/resources.html.
