Teens and Vaping

As of November 13, 2019, the CDC reported that there are currently 2,172 cases of vaping use associated with some type of medical condition (mostly lung injury) in 49 U.S. states. Of the total cases, 14% of the patients are under 18 years old. 40% of patients are 18 to 24. The epidemic of teens and vaping is growing in America at a staggering rate according to several teen vaping stats.

The vaping outbreak death toll now reaches 33. Experts believe that the outbreak is due to some type of chemical exposure. However, it is still unclear which substances are causing the medical conditions and subsequent deaths. The CDC is currently conducting tests to determine what is leading to lung injuries and other medical problems.

Vaping Use Among Teens

In 2018, the Surgeon General declared that e-cigarette use had skyrocketed by 78% among teens. Nearly three-fourths of all teens use vaping devices to inhale marijuana. The combination of the vape flavors and marijuana is what makes the vaping attractive.

According to the National Institute of Health (NIH), vaping has drastically reversed the decline in nicotine use among teenagers. From 1976 through 2016, the use of cigarettes among teens plummeted from 29 percent to just under three percent. While vaping has contributed to that trend over the last five years, teens and vaping have caused the use of nicotine to increase. Student addiction treatment in Jacksonville, FL, has seen a significant rise in clients.

Why Do Teens Vape?

Teens and vaping has become more popular for several reasons, including:

• Regardless of the current epidemic in the U.S., many teens still feel that vaping is a safer alternative to cigarettes
• Vape products come in a wide range of flavors that make them more enjoyable than cigarettes
• Vaping leaves less of a trace than smoking. Teens can vape virtually anywhere without the fear of getting caught
• Teens can use vape devices to inhale marijuana, as well as nicotine
• Vaping is relatively affordable once a teen purchases a device

The attraction between teens and vaping continues to grow because teenagers can access vapes easily through a family member or a friend. While stores are encouraged to restrict vaping devices to adults, many of them do not adhere to advice or regulations governing the sale of vapes.

Is Vaping Addictive?

Teen vaping stats show that they become addicted to vaping as easily as they can to traditional cigarettes. Among other chemicals, teenagers inhale nicotine through the vape. Although a user can control the level of nicotine in a vape, they gradually increase the amount of nicotine through prolonged use.

The brain responds to nicotine in a vape the same way it responds to nicotine in a cigarette. Over time, the brain forms a dependency that requires increased levels of nicotine to sustain the euphoric feeling. A teenager may continue to vape even if they want to quit. As a result, they may need to enter an addiction treatment center in Jacksonville, FL, to stop vaping.

Withdrawal symptoms are also the same with teens and vaping. When a teenager stops vaping, they may feel irritable, hungry, tired, or sad. They may also experience nausea, insomnia, or more intense withdrawal symptoms.

Teens and Vaping: The Time to Stop is Now

The vape epidemic has shown that vaping is dangerous. Regardless of the cultural perception of teens and vaping, it is clear that it can lead to health problems or fatalities. So, if you have a teenager that is vaping and you need help, then contact Beaches Recovery at 866.605.0532. We offer student addiction treatment in Jacksonville, FL.