Teens and Vaping - What you need to Know

By John Quinn | Posted: Monday November 4, 2019

Acknowledgement to John Quinn, Director of Wellbeing & Positive Education, Christ's College

Gone is the fug of cigarette smoke hanging in the air as smoking has fallen out of favour, but now there is a new habit gaining traction. 

Vaping is the inhaling of a vapour created by an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or other battery-powered vaping device. Vaping uses cartridges filled with a liquid that usually contains nicotine, flavourings and chemicals. The liquid is heated into a vapour, which is inhaled – and that is why using e-cigarettes is called “vaping”. 

Even though vaping is exploding in popularity and e-cigarettes are being used by adolescents and adults alike, there is currently a lack of regulation around vaping and how e-cigarettes should be promoted, sold and used in New Zealand. 

Because vaping is a relatively recent innovation, its long-term effects are still unknown. It may be a new way of smoking, but vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking and potentially has just as many health issues as cigarettes are known to have. 

The liquids used in vaping and e-cigarettes are available in many flavours used to target young users. Most contain nicotine, but even those that don’t still contain toxic chemicals. We know that the nicotine inhaled when vaping is highly addictive and can slow brain development in children and adolescents, affecting memory, concentration, learning, self-control, attention and mood, and potentially increasing the risk of other types of addiction in adulthood. Vaping and e-cigarettes can irritate and damage the lungs, and vaping has recently been linked to an increased risk of heart disease. Vaping can be an entry activity that leads to smoking cigarettes and other forms of tobacco use, and some people use e-cigarettes to vape marijuana, THC oil and other dangerous chemicals. 

Vaping facts 

• The liquids used in e-cigarette devices and vaping contain harmful chemicals like antifreeze (made from one of two chemicals: propylene glycol or ethylene glycol), diethylene glycol, and carcinogens such as nitrosamines 
• The nicotine in e-cigarettes is addictive and can harm brain development 
• E-cigarettes are not recommended as a way to quit smoking • In some cases, e-cigarette devices have exploded, causing burns or fires 
• E-cigarettes can be used to smoke or "vape" marijuana, herbs waxes, and oils 
• E-cigarettes are not yet regulated nor approved for smoking cessation by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and the long-term health effects to users and bystanders are still unknown. Due to the lack of regulation, the chemical compounds used in e-cigarettes can vary between brands 
• The best way to protect your children is to never smoke or vape near them. Talk with your doctor about quitting all tobacco. Never smoke indoors, in your car, or in places where children spend time 

As parents, it is important to be aware of vaping and to find time to discuss with your children the costs of vaping and its detrimental effect on health and wellbeing.