The risks of E-cigarettes for today’s youth

EL PASO, Texas - The FDA and CDC released federal data from the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey. The study shows that in 2022, more than 1 in 10 middle and high school students had used a tobacco product.

For the ninth consecutive year, e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. 2.55 million said they use e-cigarettes, followed by cigars, and cigarettes. 

The study is given to young people in grades six through 12. products contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain. Using nicotine during adolescence might also increase the risk of future addiction to other drugs. Companies have steadily increased the concentration of nicotine in their e-cigarette fluids. For $20, a teenager can buy the nicotine equivalent of several cartons of cigarettes.

Scientists are still learning about how e-cigarettes affect health when they are used for long periods of time. It’s important to know that the vapor from an e-cigarette contains some cancer-causing chemicals, although in significantly lower amounts than in cigarette smoke according to the American Cancer Society.

There is no doubt that vaping e-cigarettes pose a risk to a person’s health. Understanding e-cigarettes and their effects continue to develop alongside knowledge of lung cancer.