LAWRENCE COUNTY – Vaping has become an issue all around the country, but something that makes it worse is having it in your own backyard.
Abbey Teague with Hoosier Uplands Smoke-Free Lawrence County campaign premiered on WBIW’s Talk of the Town on Monday, February 28th to discuss some of the issues she has dealt with in vaping as well as ways for people to gain access to quitting their tobacco use.
One of the main issues the effect vaping has on today’s youth is the names of the vape product as well as the flavors, which makes it appear less damaging to those who use it.
As a teenager, discussing tobacco usage or even alcohol is the last thing you would want to do with your parents. Vaping causes damage at a faster rate than typical tobacco use and could leave permanent damage to your lungs. Even if the children aren’t talking to their parents, it is important to talk with a doctor who can show what effects vaping can have on them.
Many employers have incentives to quit smoking, by paying you to stop. By doing this, they will save themselves more money in the long run.
The only difference between smoking and vaping is that smoking delivers nicotine by burning tobacco, which can cause smoking-related illnesses, and vaping can deliver nicotine by heating a liquid in a much less harmful way.
Why nicotine is bad and unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults:
- Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine—the addictive drug in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products.
- A recent CDC study found that 99% of the e-cigarettes sold in assessed venues in the United States contained nicotine.
- Some e-cigarette labels do not disclose that they contain nicotine, and some e-cigarettes marketed as containing 0% nicotine have been found to contain nicotine.
- Nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain. The brain keeps developing until about age 25.
- Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
- Each time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, stronger connections – or synapses – are built between brain cells. Young people’s brains build synapses faster than adult brains. Nicotine changes the way these synapses are formed.
- Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase the risk for future addiction to other drugs.
Let your child know that you want them to stay away from all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes because they are not safe for them. Seek help and get involved.
- Set up an appointment with your child’s health care provider so that they can hear from a medical professional about the health risks of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
- Speak with your child’s teacher and school administrator about the enforcement of tobacco-free school grounds policies and tobacco prevention curriculum.
- Encourage your child to learn the facts and get tips for quitting tobacco products at Teen.smokefree.gov.
Those wishing to quit can visit quitnowindiana.com, call 1-800-QUIT-NOW, or by downloading the quitSTART app on their phone.
