By Amanda Lindsey, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Grace Cottage Family Health
How encouraging it was to see close to 150 Vermont youth rallying at the Statehouse in Montpelier last month, urging awareness of the dangers from flavored tobacco and other nicotine products. These teens see the daily prevalence of these products first-hand, as e-cigarettes and vaping have become commonplace in our schools.
The term e-cigarette is a short form of electronic cigarette. These devices have a battery inside that heats liquid into an aerosol (vapor). The user inhales the vapor in an activity called vaping, inhaling it in a way similar to smoking.
The use of e-cigarettes is a rising trend these days, for adults, but particularly for teens. In just over a decade, this fad has grown into a huge industry, with hundreds of thousands of users.
Vermont health officials say 86 percent of e-cigarette users are between 12 and 25 years old.
Every two years, the Vermont Department of Health conducts a broad-ranging Youth Behavior Risk Survey among middle and high school students. Among many other things, students are asked about vaping. In the 2023 survey, 16% of Vermont high school students said they used e-cigarettes at least once in the past 30 days, and of those students, 37% did so daily.
As a pediatric medical provider, I am especially concerned with this practice among teens. Many who try this do not realize how addictive it can be — most of the products used in vaping contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. And nicotine has detrimental effects on teens’ brain development.
“Research shows that three out of four youths that start smoking as a teenager will continue to do so in adulthood,. That’s what we’re up against,” said Dr. Mark Levine, Vermont’s Health Commissioner.
Beyond the problems from nicotine, vape flavorings and other additives also contain harmful metals, such as arsenic and lead, and the inhaled aerosol is harmful to both the user and those who are exposed secondhand. The Vermont Health Department and the U.S. Surgeon General both urge those who influence youth, young adults, and people who are pregnant to share about these risks and to discourage nicotine use in any form, including e-cigarettes.
I’m so glad that some teens are recognizing the dangers of these products and are speaking out, not only to their peers, but also to their legislators. The February 13 rally in Montpelier was organized by two youth-led groups, Our Voices Xposed (OVX) and Vermont Kids Against Tobacco (VKAT). They marched from the Unitarian Church to the Statehouse, and they spoke in the House Chamber. They told personal stories about witnessing addictions and spoke about how their peers sneak off to the bathroom to vape or even take a quick puff during class. They also complained about the deceptive and compelling advertising that draws in their friends.
Last year, Gov. Phil Scott vetoed a bill that would have outlawed the retail sales of all flavored e-cigarettes, e-liquids (used in some vaping devices), and oral nicotine pouches (used similarly to chewing tobacco, by resting the pouch between lips and gum). Those opposed to the ban say that it will hurt small local stores and cost anywhere from $7-to-$14 million in lost tax revenue.
Whether a ban occurs or not, it’s important for teens to know the risk they are taking. I make sure to talk to my young patients, asking them about their vaping use and exposure within their friend group. Peer pressure plays a big role – a lot of my patients who vape say they do it to fit in.
I also make sure to discuss the risks of vaping, such as harming brain development (which continues until about age 25) and increasing the risk of future addiction to other drugs. Additionally, we know that teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to go on to using regular cigarettes.
Education is the key. It worked in the past to reduce smoking of traditional cigarettes, and it’s important now to help lower the incidence of vaping among our teens, the future leaders and workforce of our communities.
So, if you know a kid who vapes, don’t be afraid to show you care by speaking out.
