Did you know that Michigan is the only U.S. state not to ban the sale of e-cigarettes to those under the age of 18? House Bill 4164 could soon change that. A version has passed the Michigan Senate and is about to be voted on in the House. The bill includes fines ranging from $100-$2500 for stores that sell e-cigarettes to underage teens. Additionally, teenagers could be charged $50 and ordered to do community service. Details of the bill can be found at HB 4164
What’s all the hype about E-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes have recently become a popular alternative to cigarette smoking among teens. As a result, e-cig use by those under 18 rose 78% from 2017 to 2018!
What are e-cigarettes?
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid and turn it into an aerosol for inhaling. The solutions in e-cigarettes contain vegetable glycerin or propylene glycol as the main ingredients. Nicotine, flavorings and other additives are also included.
Are e-cigarettes a safe alternative to cigarettes?
Using e-cigarettes has been touted as a safe alternative to tobacco cigarettes. Although more research is needed to learn everything, it’s clear that vaping can negatively affect your health. This is especially true in teenagers. One of the primary concerns regarding e-cigs is that most contain nicotine — a highly addictive substance.
Nicotine dependence has a higher level of risk in persons younger than 25. This is because their brains are still developing. Exposing a developing brain to an addictive drug can lead to permanent changes in brain chemistry. Specifically, connections that control learning and attention are affected. It also may make the brain more vulnerable to other forms of addiction in the future.
Dr. Shaun Jayakar of Ascension St. John says vaping can rewire the brain of users under 25. This re-wiring can form an addiction. Other dangers include Cancer, Heart Attacks, Strokes and popcorn lung (scarring and breathing problems).
At this point, the potential long-term effects of e-cigarette smoking have not been explored thoroughly. However, short-term negative health consequences have been associated with vaping.
One study followed people who had smoked e-cigarettes for seven months. They experienced an increase in shortness of breath, cough and fevers. Cases of lipoid pneumonia associated with e-cigarette use have been reported. This inflammation of the lungs happens when fatty substances are inhaled.
Some e-cigarette vapor contains ingredients that could be toxic, including nickel, tin, lead, benzene and formaldehyde. Long-term exposure to these substances in e-cigarette vapor could lead to injury and disease. Cancer and reproductive health issues are among the consequences.
Can e-cigarettes help cigarette smokers quit?
Some people have touted e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking. But studies have not shown e-cigarettes to be an effective way to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes compared to FDA approved therapies. These include the nicotine patch.
Another study looked at the probability of young people to smoke cigarettes if they ever used e-cigarettes. Those who had tried e-cigarettes had 3.5X higher odds of smoking tobacco cigarettes than those who had never used e-cigarettes.
It’s important to note that e-cigs are not required to conform to consistent safety standards. There have been cases of e-cigarettes that have exploded and caused significant harm, including flame and chemical burns and blast injuries.
How the e-cigarette industry successfully promotes to teens
College scholarships
Several e-cigarette companies are offering college scholarships, some up to $5,000. Students are asked to write essays. Topics like whether vaping could have potential benefits, according to the Associated Press. For example, one company asks applicants to write about whether e-cigarettes minimize smoking’s negative effects.
E-cigarette manufacturers often say that their products are intended for adults who want to quit smoking. However, the AP reports that, “although some of the scholarships are limited to students 18 and older — many are open to younger teens or have no age limit.”
“Most of these kids are not smokers,” said Robin Koval, CEO and president of Truth Initiative®, in the AP story. “What [e-cigarette manufacturers are]
saying and what they’re doing don’t seem to agree here. But that’s not surprising.”
Social media buzz
JUUL spent over $1 million to launch their product in 2015. The product was positioned as cool, fun, relaxing, and sexy. JUUL went from a monthly average of 765 tweets on Twitter in 2015 to 30,565 in 2017. And it helped grow their business – big time. From 2017 to 2018, JUUL’s market share went from 24% to 75%!
Music festival and event sponsorships
In 2013, blu eCigs sponsored the Sasquatch Music Festival in Washington state. It featured a vapor lounge with a social media photo booth and guest appearances by festival performers. More recently, JUUL sponsored a “Music in Film Summit” at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival in Utah.
Both of these examples are marketing tactics that are banned for cigarette and smokeless tobacco companies. The 1998 Master Settlement Agreement and the 2009 Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act prohibited cigarette and smokeless tobacco companies from sponsoring music, sports and other cultural events. This was because of evidence that linked these types of marketing tactics with youth tobacco use. E-cigs are not bound by these restrictions.
Flavors kids love
The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act banned all flavors except menthol in cigarettes. This was done to reduce the appeal to your children. Flavors are still allowed in other tobacco products, including e-cigs. So the e-cig companies capitalize on this by offering “fun, tasty” flavors such as cotton candy and gummi bear. They also package them to look like common food items that attract your kids.
Let’s clear the smoke and mirrors on E-cigarettes vs. traditional cigarettes
The perception is e-cigs are safe because they have lower levels of nicotine than traditional cigarettes. The opposite is true. In fact, e-cig nicotine exceeds that of cigarettes by almost 6:1! The average American tobacco cigarette contains about 9mg of nicotine. One teaspoon of e-cig liquid contains 60mg of nicotine!
Medical experts say e-cigs are just as dangerous as smoking and can lead to addiction. Last fall, the FDA described teen e-cig usage an epidemic.
The bottom line is that e-cigs pose health risks, especially to teens. Exposing the developing brain to high levels of an addictive substance can have long-term consequences. It’s important for you to talk with your kids about the risks. You should encourage them to avoid e-cigarettes and all other products containing tobacco and nicotine.
Want to learn more?
Do you have questions or concerns about e-cig usage by your kids, yourself or anyone close to you? Get in touch with us for a complimentary consultation.
Alpha Lifestyle Center
1010 Bowers St.
Birmingham, MI 48009
248.594.1303
