Vaping is Dangerous

Think vaping is the safer alternative to smoking?

Think Again…

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LET’S UNCOVER THE TRUTH ABOUT VAPING

Campaigns against tobacco companies have been around for the last thirty years, so our young people are aware of the dangers and have essentially been “scared out” of smoking traditional cigarettes. However, the new trend of vaping is on the rise. The first vape was developed within the last ten years, and there are many false beliefs about it, such as it being a safe alternative to smoking. While the long-term effects are not being studied yet, there are many short-term effects seen in people, specifically young people.

Vaping Dangers

Ingesting Formaldehyde and Metal

A vape is not actually vapor, but instead, an aerosol with tons of harmful ingredients. The e-cigarette (electronic cigarette) uses a coil to heat liquid, in which it produces the aerosol vapor. The main ingredients in e-cigarettes are propylene glycol and glycerin, which are not too toxic, unless they are overheated. Overheating these chemicals in an e-cigarette is very common. When these safe compounds are overheated and begin to decompose, they turn into dangerous compounds like formaldehyde.

Teens will typically insert the juice into the e-cigarette directly onto the coils, which is now exposing our teens to the overheated ingredients as well as the toxic metals, such as lead. The metals are leaking from the coils. The level of nicotine the teen is taking in also depends on how they set up their e-cigarette.

Vegetable Glycerin and Flavorings are thought to be causing rapid damage to teeth. This combination is causing the teeth to become soft and decay.

Popcorn Lung

Nearly all of the flavors available contain at least one of the three common chemicals
known to cause popcorn lung. These three chemicals are diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, and acetoin. This condition has no known cure or treatment, so symptoms are permanent. Some symptoms may include wheezing, dry coughs, inflammation, scar tissue, shortness of breath, airway obstruction and decreased lung volume. The formal name for popcorn lung is Bronchiolitis Obliterans.

Explosions

Explosions in e-cigarettes are common. The e-cigarettes contain a heating element that produces the nicotine steam. If there is any damage to this heating element, the unit can overheat and explode. When an explosion happens, it sends hot metal and battery acid everywhere. Typically, the explosion occurs when the e-cigarette is in use, which means right by someone’s face. These explosions are known to cause shattered teeth, severe burns, fractures, broken necks and skin grafts may be necessary.

Vaping Leads to Nicotine Addiction

Not only are there serious health risks with vaping, but it also gets our teens addicted to nicotine at a young age, which means they will likely try other tobacco products in the future, and the nicotine can have long-term effects on the developing brain. While vaping may be a good short-term gateway to stop smoking in adults, it is introducing teens’ to nicotine at a younger age. Some e-cigarettes are marketed as “nicotine-free” but this is not
monitored at all. Sometimes these “nicotine-free” e-cigarettes have an even higher level of nicotine in them.

Weakens Immune System

The use of e-cigarettes drastically weakens the immune system. Vaping causes you to be at a higher risk for contracting the flu, strep, or pneumonia. The cause of this is the lowered activity in cells of genes that will fight off infection.

Liquid vape poisoning

Poisoning from the vape liquid can occur in one of three ways – through absorption through the eyes or skin, inhalation, or ingestion. The main problem with this is that most of the calls to the CDC are for children under the age of five years old. The young age is likely due to
the fruity and attractive flavorings of the vape liquid. These liquids can cause severe skin irritations.

Teen Education

Have the Conversation

After talking to many parents once we began our campaign, we heard things such as “we always taught them to say no to cigarettes”, “my teen was able to hide it from me”, “this was not part of the conversation”, “they thought it was safe”, “I just simply did not know”, and the list continues. Our mission is to educate teens and their parents about the real dangers of vaping. To increase the conversation and awareness. To fight for our teen’s health. To uncover the TRUTH about vaping. Vaping is dangerous and our teens deserve more.

VAPING STATISTICS

What’s in your E-cigarette?

Uhhhh… Keep in mind, manufacturers don’t have to report e-cigarette ingredients, so users don’t actually know what is in them.
What’s in your e-cigarette? 66% of people say just flavoring, 14% aren’t sure, 13% are nicotine, and 6% are marijuana. Unfortunately, most manufacturers do not accurately report what an e-cigarette contains.
Flavoring
Unknown
Nicotine
Marijuana
Other
Percentage
66%
13.7%
13.2%
5.8%
1.3%

In the next six months…

30.7 % of teens who vape and 8.1 % of teen non-smokers will start smoking cigarettes.
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) website now reads: “It is now illegal for a retailer to sell any tobacco product – including cigarettes, cigars and e-cigarettes – to anyone under 21.”

Vape Free Pledge

I, ____________, PLEDGE TO PROTECT MYSELF AND OTHERS FROM THE HEALTH RISKS OF VAPING. I UNDERSTAND THAT VAPING HAS SERIOUS HEALTH RISKS, AND PLEDGE TO NEVER VAPE, OR USE TOBACCO IN ANY FORM. I PLEDGE TO SPREAD THE WORD TO MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY ABOUT THE DANGERS OF VAPING.