Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2020 Jun;32(3):343-348.
doi: 10.1097/MOP.0000000000000889.

Vaping implications for children and youth

Meghan Gilley  1 , Suzanne Beno  2
Affiliations
Review

Vaping implications for children and youth

Meghan Gilley et al. Curr Opin Pediatr. 2020 Jun.

Abstract

Purpose of review: The development and uptake of E cigarettes are a relatively recent phenomenon. Because of aggressive marketing, attractive designs, enticing flavors and primarily reactionary legislation, we are now seeing soaring rates of adolescent vaping with associated consequences. This review explores how E cigarettes work, their health implications, epidemiology among youth and current regulatory strategies.

Recent findings: Recently, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported that 27% of high school students had used a tobacco product within the last month, the majority being E-cigarettes in 20.8% of high school students. Vaping has managed to reverse a decades long trend of declining nicotine use among youth. Long-term addiction is not the only concern related to youth vaping; there are also increasing reports of short-term health consequences, such as seizures, acute nicotine toxicity, burns and lung injury.

Summary: Industry has created and aggressively marketed a product that is enticing to adolescents. E cigarettes have sleek designs, desirable flavors and social acceptability with perceived safety among youth. This has resulted in epidemic E cigarette use in youth with resultant significant short-term and long-term health concerns. Legislation must include regulations that strictly avoid marketing and sales to youth, as well as reducing access to these products.

PubMed Disclaimer

References

    1. Layden JE, Ghinai I, Pray I, et al. Pulmonary illness related to E-cigarette use in Illinois and Wisconsin: final report. N Engl J Med 2020; 382:903–916.
    1. Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Office on Smoking, Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention, Health, Promotion. About Electronic Cigarettes (E-Cigarettes). 2018; Available from: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/about-e-cigar.... [cited 2019 Oct 21].
    1. Glasser AM, Collins L, Pearson JL, et al. Overview of electronic nicotine delivery systems. Am J Prev Med 2017; 52:33–66.
    1. US Food and Drug Administration, Vaporizers, E-Cigarettes, and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). 2019; Available from: https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/vap.... [cited 2019 Oct 21].
    1. Fadus MC, Smith TT, Squeglia LM. The rise of e-cigarettes, pod mod devices, and JUUL among youth: factors influencing use, health implications, and downstream effects. Drug Alcohol Depend 2019; 201:85–93.