There have been many claims that vaping and e-cigarette (e-cig) use is a safer alternative to traditional cigarette smoking. 
However, tobacco smoking of any kind is detrimental to young adults. Teens’ brains are not fully developed, and most vape products contain nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical, and its effects can interfere with the chemistry of a teen’s developing brain in which they can no longer properly function. Learning, memory, attention, and behavior can be permanently and negatively affected. Furthermore, the vapor in e-cig products can contain toxic chemicals and particles that can damage the lungs or hinder their development, increasing the risk of lung cancer and other lung diseases. Yet, unfortunately, teens and young adults have been a large demographic consuming these products, and companies still make the claim that vape products are “safer than cigarettes”.
A recent study conducted on vaping and e-cigs now dispels the notion that vaping is safer than traditional cigarette smoking. An article published by CBS News references a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association that has found e-cigs to cause alterations in heart health and the cardiovascular system, hindering its proper function. Additionally, the degree of this damage is similar to that of traditional cigarette use. It was discovered that all the adult subjects who used e-cigarettes had equal damage to the cells that line the blood vessels and their arteries were just as stiff as those who smoke traditional cigarettes. Both circumstances can cause damage to the small blood vessels, including capillaries, putting additional stress on the heart, thus leading to heart disease.
So, we have credible information that vaping and e-cigs damage the lungs…now the heart. So was “safer” really safe at all?
To access the article and the study, follow the links below:
“E-cigarettes could be just as bad for your heart as regular cigarettes, study finds”
“Alterations in Vascular Function Associated With the Use of Combustible and Electronic Cigarettes”
If your child or a child you know is unable to stop vaping, please contact the child’s health care provider, school counselor, or other trusted professional to discuss ways to help them quit. You can also check out some of these resources below:
Text “QUIT” to (202) 804-9884
Text “DITCHJUUL” to 887-09
Georgia Tobacco Quitline (GTQL): 1-877-270-STOP (877-270-7867)
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Quitline: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)
The National Cancer Institute Quitline: 877-44U-QUIT (877-448-7848)