Editor's note: The opinions expressed in this commentary are solely those of the author.
Recently racking up the seventh death, electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have created a temporary high with a permanent impact for many young adults, and that’s quite frankly something to be fumed about.
Infused with five percent of nicotine and flavor, these USB shaped battery devices are discreet yet deadly. Ranging from a plethora of flavors, strawberry, mango, and pear to name a few are disguised under the distinct forms of tobacco varying from hookah pens, e-hookahs, vape pens, and Juuls.
E-cigarettes come in multiple flavors, slim appearance and convenient design, this makes it appealing to young adults, particularly college-aged students from 18-24.
Contrary to making up a majority of the demographic for e-cigarette usage, college-aged students are not the primary intended audience.
According to JUUL's Chief Administrative Officer in a recent BuzzFeed interview, the intended audience and purpose for most of these e-cigarette products is to “get adult smokers to switch away from cigarettes, the designers wanted to make a product that wouldn't visually remind people of cigarettes since they are trying to quit, but still provide the same nicotine delivery and sensory aspects of a cigarette,” not for pleasure and enjoyment.
In reality, that purpose has unfortunately become distorted and overall misused, especially by its unintended consumer. As the objective is to lessen the smoking usage for people who already smoke cigarettes, this inadvertently allows non-smokers to become heavily reliant on this highly addictive stimulant drug; nicotine, due to their familiarity. Non-smokers may be under the assumption that e-cigarettes are harmless and ineffective to one’s health. Yet, that notion is inaccurate.
As of recently the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions reported, “more than 400 previously healthy young people have been hospitalized in 33 states because of a mysterious lung ailment.”
Yet, this has not prevented ones aged between 18-24 to quit indulging in these tobacco filled products. Consequently, e-cigarettes (vape pens and Juuls) are among the latest addiction for this demographic.
However, due to the on-going phenomenon, this reoccurrence has generated a red flag to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), as this has emerged into a health epidemic.
In 2017 the FDA announced a plan that would take initiative in regulating tobacco in efforts to limit addiction amongst the youth. “This plan will serve as a multi-year roadmap to better protect kids and significantly reduce tobacco-related disease and death in the U.S.”
By moving forward, in spring of 2018 the FDA issued an advance notice to rule-makers to fasten the process of regulating flavors in tobacco products and a year later 16 states, including Virginia, has newly implemented a law that raises the minimum age to buy tobacco, including cigarettes and e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21, in an effort to prevent young people from smoking.
That said, as the e-cigarette market continues to make a profit off your possible last breath, it’s best to have them not hold their breath.
Vapes, Juuls and other forms of E-cigs have proven to be just as harmful as cigarettes.
