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Nicotine use has changed, but the risks haven’t

Vaping, Juuling, cloud chasing – we have all most likely heard of electronic cigarettes or vapes. With so many new terms and devices being pushed to market, it can feel hard to keep track of the latest information. While the packaging has certainly changed, vapes and cigarettes still share the same core elements: Tobacco or a solution containing nicotine called vape juice is heated to create a smoke or aerosol that is then inhaled by the user. Nicotine, a naturally occurring neurotoxin in the tobacco plant, is the main cause of dependence in all tobacco products.

Since their debut in late 2006, e-cigarettes and vapes have been inappropriately portrayed as the “healthier” alternative to traditional cigarettes. At one time they were falsely advertised as a smoking-cessation aid. Throughout their short time on the market, vapes have been designed to attract users of all ages, especially youths, by using designs with interactive screens and youth-friendly flavors such as “chocolate mint ice cream” and “rocket popsicle” to further the misconception that vapes are safe for youths. The federal Food and Drug Administration provides zero assurances about the safety of vapes, only authorizing that the legal requirements have been met for the product to be sold. Because there are no safe tobacco or nicotine products, the FDA’s safe and effective standard for evaluating medical products can’t be applied.

Regardless of misleading safety claims and ads targeting young people, the majority of La Plata County’s youths are not vaping. According to the latest Healthy Kids Colorado Survey results for 2023 for Southwest Colorado, 60.3% of our youths have never used an electronic vapor product of any kind.

Nicotine is one of the most addictive substances and often requires multiple quit attempts for a person to stay off it. In fact, 90% of smokers wish they had never started smoking in the first place. For many concerned about their own use or a loved one’s use, the topic can cause anxiety, especially after unsuccessful attempts or conversations. When having these conversations, it is important to remember to be curious, listen to what your loved one is trying to tell you and try to avoid judgment at all costs. It is likely that they might share some of your same concerns about their own health.

Smoking, or inhaling irritants like nicotine and chemicals cause our lungs to lose their elasticity. Over time, this results in a buildup of trapped air within the lung and decreased lung capacity. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, tobacco use in the U.S. is responsible for 1 of every 4 (25%) cardiovascular disease-related deaths, 1 out of every 3 (33%) cancer-related deaths and 8 out of 10 (80%) chronic obstructive pulmonary disease-related deaths annually.

The health risks of nicotine use have been well documented for decades, with a strong caution to avoid use during adolescence. During adolescence, our bodies and brains are the most vulnerable to nicotine because both do not completely develop until about age 25. Adolescent nicotine use can negatively affect attention, learning, mood and impulse control during crucial stages of their development. Because of the under-researched health effects of vape use, it was not known that while vitamin E-acetate is safe for oral ingestion and topical applications, it can severely interfere with proper lung functioning if inhaled.

Despite cigarettes being first mass produced in the late 1800s, the history of traditional cigarettes and modern-day vapes have shocking similarities. It wasn’t until 1964 when the first report of the Surgeon General’s Advisory Committee on Smoking and Health was released that Americans learned of the lung cancer, laryngeal cancer and chronic bronchitis caused by smoking. By this time, an estimated 42% of the U.S. population smoked. While vape aerosols have been found to contain numerous carcinogens such as lead, formaldehyde and arsenic because of the chemicals in vape juice, it wasn’t until vaping peaked in popularity that a life-threatening lung injury was linked to their use. As of February 2020, a total of 2,807 people were hospitalized and 68 lives were lost because of injuries suffered from the use of vitamin E-acetate within these devices.

Educating yourself about what to expect from a quit attempt and knowing how to prepare for cravings and triggers in advance can make all the difference in supporting yourself or another in quitting nicotine. The most success in staying quit is often seen with a mix of personalized coaching, support and nicotine-replacement therapy options.

To learn more about free individualized coaching and free nicotine replacement medications, contact the Colorado Quitline at (800) QUIT-NOW or visit its website www.coquitline.org.

Megan Robinson is the Substance Use Prevention coordinator at the La Plata County Public Health Department. Reach her at mrobinson@lpcgov.org.