From flashy e-cigarette gadgets and tantalizingly fun flavours, it’s easy to see how vaping has become the hot new craze amongst teens and tweens – but is it really a safer alternative to smoking?
By Elana Botha
Since the introduction of the first e-cigarette, vaping has been touted as a “safer” option than conventional smoking, but the truth is that e-cigarettes have only been around for about a decade and scientists don’t yet have any long-term evidence of their risks. Vaping could be a healthier alternative to smoking, but it may also be far worse in the long run.
What is an e-cigarette?
An electronic cigarette, or e-cigarette, is a handheld device that vaporises a liquid solution containing nicotine, flavourings and other chemicals. Users inhale the resulting vapour, which simulates the sensation of smoking traditional cigarettes without the combustion of tobacco. E-cigarettes come in various shapes, sizes and designs; making them exceptionally easy to market to younger demographics, enticing them with the abundance of available options and the allure of being on trend with the latest designs.
“The longer you smoke, the higher your risks for lung and heart disease, and the harder it is to stop. Once real damage is done, there is not a lot we can do to fix it.”
Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit, Head of the Lung Clinical Research Unit at the UCT Lung Institute.
Overall Health Risks
While some studies have shown promising benefits in the use of e-cigarettes to assist cigarette smokers in quitting the habit, what is more concerning is the growing use of these products by teenagers and adolescents who have been led to believe that vaping is fun and “safe”. “What is worrying is a rising trend in experimenting with vaping among the youth,” says Dr Noluthando Nematswerani, Head of the Centre for Clinical Excellence at Discovery Health. An analysis of data from poison centres globally in the 2010s showed an alarming increase in calls relating to e-cigarette poisoning in children as young as 5.
Studies show that teens who vape have higher rates of asthma, more frequent asthma attacks and more absences from school due to breathing troubles. It appears that e-cigarettes trigger similar kinds of inflammatory responses in the lungs as cigarettes do.
Due to the lack of evidence of the safety and long-term outcomes of vaping, most communities still advocate the inclusion of e-cigarettes in smoking bans. “Although smokers may feel their rights are being infringed upon with smoking bans, stopping any sort of smoking is a fantastic idea,” says Professor Richard van Zyl-Smit, Head of the Lung Clinical Research Unit at the UCT Lung Institute.
The benefits of never smoking are undeniable, the professor says. “Within 24 hours of quitting smoking, your blood pressure and oxygen levels will stabilise and your risk for stroke and heart disease will drop. The longer you smoke, the higher your risks for lung and heart disease, and the harder it is to stop. Once real damage is done, there is not a lot we can do to fix it.”
What you can do to help
Peer pressure can be powerful, so coming up with realistic action steps and practising them together with your children in a safe environment will prepare and empower them to make good choices when it matters.
Creating an “exit plan” can empower your teens to navigate challenging situations like these:
- Work with your child to identify and address triggers that may lead to vaping, such as stress, peer pressure, boredom, or anxiety.
- Establish code words or signals that teens can use to discreetly communicate their need to exit a challenging situation without embarrassing themselves. For example, they can text a specific code word to you or another trusted family member to indicate that they need help.
- Help your teens to brainstorm and rehearse polite yet firm excuses for declining offers to activities they do not want to participate in. Having these excuses prepared in advance can alleviate the pressure of coming up with one on the spot.
- Reassure your teens that they can always reach out to you or another trusted adult for support and guidance if they find themselves in a difficult situation. Let them know that you’re there to help them without judgment.
If your teen is struggling to quit vaping despite your support, consider seeking help from a healthcare professional. Amidst the cloud of uncertainty surrounding vaping, it is clear that all experts agree – that not smoking at all is still truly the best way forward.
