The usage of a popular electronic device is found all over the country. No, it’s not your iPhone, and it’s definitely not your computer. It’s a vape pen (aka an e-cigarette), and its demise isn’t coming any time soon.
To many, vape pens are worth the hype. They seem to be the better and “healthier” alternative to cigarettes and other drugs. They’re cheaper alternatives to cigarettes, offer a variety of aerosols or “flavored air” that are inhaled into the lungs, and most vape pens are reusable.
But where did vape pens even come from and why? Let’s check it out.
Vape pens were invented to help smokers find an effective way to quit tobacco smoking back in the early 2000s. However, more than 40% of vapers have never even smoked a cigarette, likely due to the fact that most vape pen users are teenagers and young adults.
According to the U.S. News & World Report, adults between the ages of 18-24 are three times more likely to use e-cigarettes compared to other demographics. Unfortunately, it’s a pretty believable statistic. Almost every student here knows and/or sees people vaping on campus, especially in the restrooms. But is vaping really worth the side effects?
But why do so many students vape? Likely due to the rumors; one of the most popular rumors about vaping is that it’s the “healthier” alternative to smoking, and that there are no side effects.
While it is true that e-cigarettes are a lot less harmful than traditional cigarettes due to the lack of tobacco and other carcinogens in them, e-cigarettes still have a range of serious side effects. According to the American Lung Association, e-cigarettes contain a variety of chemicals, such as acetaldehyde, acrolein, and formaldehyde. Acetaldehyde and acrolein can cause cardiovascular and lung disease, and acrolein in particular can lead to acute lung injury, asthma, and COPD. Formaldehyde is a dangerous chemical with grave consequences, too. Not only does it lead to the same side effects as acetaldehyde and acrolein, but formaldehyde is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing substance).
The nurses also recognize the dangers that come with vaping. Nurse Rebecca Shoemaker responded to the current rise in vaping specifically in BD by saying “I think there are a lot of students that are vaping here and are trying to get away with it. I wish it was monitored more in the school. Vaping is definitely not good for you, and it’s possibly even more dangerous than cigarettes since there are more chemicals that we’re unaware of. So many students use and share these vape pens without knowing what’s in them.”
She also mentioned that there seems to be a lack of education in schools when it comes to vaping, which she hopes will be improved in the future. Nurse Brittany Hayes also had similar views, saying that educating both the students and staff about the harmful effects of vaping would be “crucial” to preventing it on campus and outside of it. Hopefully by then will students realize that vaping truly isn’t worth the risks.