keeping kids safe - ahc-stl · keeping kids safe e-cigarettes a.k.a.: vapes, juuls, vape pens, vape...

HowtoProtectYourChild• Beanactiverolemodelofhealthychoices-yourexamplematters.• Knowthefactsaboute-cigarettes.Donotbemisledintobelievingthatusinge-

cigarettesisharmless.• Talkopenlyandcandidlywithyourchildrenabouttherisksofsmokinginanyform.Be

certainyourchildrenunderstandthate-cigarettesARENOTsaferthantraditionalformsofsmoking;e-cigsaredangerousindifferentways.

• Forthehealthofyourfamily,andespeciallyyourchildren,maintainazerotolerancestanceaboutsmoking.

• Supportthosearoundyouinknowingthefactsaboute-cigarettesandtherisksinvolvedintheiruse.

KeepingKidsSafeE-CigarettesA.K.A.:Vapes,Juuls,VapePens,VapeSticks,Mods,E-hookah

Introducedasasafealternativetosmoking,amongyouthe-cigsareprovingtobeaveryrisky,andincreasinglypopular,meansofnicotineandTHCconsumption.

TheRisks:• E-cigaretteuserose900%amonghighschoolstudentsbetween2011and2015.Incontrast,ratesofregular

smokingamongyouthdroppeddramatically.TheFoodandDrugAdministration(FDA)hasreferredtothedramaticincreaseine-cigaretteuseamongyouthasan“epidemic”.

• 2018Parkwayareasurveysindicatethat40%of10thgradershavetriedane-cigaretteandevenmoreperceivevapingas“cool”.The2017CDCNationalYouthTobaccoSurveyrevealsthat46.7%ofyouthwhohadtriedane-cighadnevertriedatraditionalcigarette.

• Youngteensaremorelikelytovapethansmoke.Theflavored“juices”areattractivetoteensandfosterthemisperceptionthatvapingissafe.Fruitflavoredjuicesareassociatedwithmoretoxins.

• E-cigarettevaporsareNOTharmless-evenas“secondhand”smoke.Heatingthesolutions,or“juice”,toproducetheinhalableaerosolproducesaldehyde,acetaldehyde,formaldehydeandacrolein,whichareknowncarcinogens.Thehotterthevapor,thegreaterthereleaseofchemicaltoxins.

• “Dripping”isatechniqueformakingvaporhotter,providing“blasts”ofvaporwithsignificantlyincreasedexposuretochemicaltoxins.

• E-cigarettestypicallydelivernicotine,andsometimesTHC(thepsychoactiveingredientinmarijuana),alongwithvariousflavorings,throughaliquidtypicallyconsistingofglycerinand/orpropyleneglycol.Whilethesetwochemicalsareconsideredsafeforuseinfoodconsumption,theeffectsofaerosolizingandinhalingthemintothelungsareunknown.

• E-cigsoftendelivermuchhigherdosesofnicotineandformaldehydethanconventionalcigarettes,raisingthelikelihoodofnicotineaddictioninteen“vapers”.Importantly,nicotineismuchmoreharmfultothedevelopingteenbrainthantothematureadultbrain.

WhenaJuulisnojewel!JuulLabsproducesJuule-cigarettesandpods,forwhichone“juice”podcancontainthenicotineequivalentofapackof20traditionalcigarettes.LookingverymuchlikeaUSBflashdrive,andrechargeableintheUSBportofcomputers,Juulsareeasilyconcealed,makingthempopularamongareateens.Juuldominatesthee-cigmarketwithover74%share.

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