Students are going back to school. What else are they be going back to? A recent survey found that up to three students in every high school classroom may be vaping. This is the time to talk with your teens about the harmful consequences of using e-cigarettes and vape products, especially the flavored vapes.
Young people may think it is just water vapor, and they could not be more wrong. A University of Rochester Medical Center study revealed that vapes contain thousands of cancer-causing chemicals, including the ingredients in antifreeze and lead acid batteries, as well as heavy metals that should not be ingested. Further, flavored vapor is not meant for your lungs and may lead to irreversible scarring and disease to lung tissue.
Young people may not understand the dangers of addiction. Nicotine is highly addictive, and exposure through vaping may lead to cigarette smoking as well.
Now is the time to educate our teens on why vaping is dangerous. The NYS Quitline and the Truth Initiative have partnered to offer advice for parents to help youth quit. Parents should text QUIT to 202-899-7550. Teens should text DROPTHEVAPE to 88709 for peer support from experts at the Truth Initiative. You can also call the New York State Smokers’ Quitline at 866-697-8487 or http://www.nysmokefree.com.
Jessica R. Rosman, MPH, CTTS
Health Project Specialist,
University of Rochester Medical Center,
Center for a Tobacco-Free Finger Lakes
