National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week
Tuesday, January 22, 2019
Shatter the Myths
Why Teens are Attracted to Vaping
Eaton County and Vaping
If you read yesterday's newsletter, you know the #1 substance used by Eaton County students in 2018 was electronic vapor products (e.g., e-cigarettes, vape pens, etc.) according to the 2018 Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY).
Of particular concern is the rapid increase of the use of electronic vapor products between Eaton County's 2016 and 2018 survey data. This sharp increase in use corresponds to a national spike in vaping among teens.
Almost 1 in 3 Eaton County 11th graders reported recently using electronic vapor products.
The 2017-2018 school year marks the first time alcohol was not the most consumed substance.
The Facts: E-cigarettes and Vaping
- E-cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS) come in various shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid.
- E-cigarettes are NOT safe for youth.
- E-cigarettes produce an aerosol by heating a liquid that usually contains nicotine—the addictive chemical in regular cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products. Flavorings targeted to attract youth and dozens of other chemicals can also be found in the aerosol. Users inhale this chemical-infused aerosol into their lungs. Bystanders can also breathe in this aerosol when the user exhales into the air.
In 2009, the FDA tested the ingredients of cartridges from two leading brands of e-cigarettes and found levels of cancer-causing and toxic chemicals, including diethylene glycol, an ingredient in antifreeze.
E-cigarettes are NOT an approved U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) quit tobacco device and should NOT be marketed as such.
Teen Brains and Vaping Don't Mix
Adolescent years are times of important brain development. Brain development begins during the growth of the fetus in the womb and continues through childhood and to about age 25. Nicotine exposure during adolescence and young adulthood can cause addiction and harm the developing brain. To learn more about the Surgeon's General Statement about the harms of E-cigarettes on youth, go here.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services
Eaton County Substance Awareness Advisory Group
Email: ecsaag@eatonresa.org
Website: www.eatondrugfree.org
Location: 1790 Packard Highway, Charlotte, MI, United States
Phone: 517-541-8711
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ECSAAG/
Twitter: @ecsaag