Research has indicated that adolescents who use e-cigarettes are more likely to begin smoking traditional cigarettes than teens who do not vape, compounding the harm potentially caused by vaping, which has been linked to heart and blood vessel damage. Also, researchers at Stanford University have produced strong evidence that Juul, one of the leading e-cigarettes manufactures, intended to target teens in early advertising. This research found that Juul’s ads from 2015 to 2018 contained striking similarities to traditional cigarette advertising aimed at teens, including the use of social media influencers ad pictures of younger people in fashionable clothes.
Furthermore, the sweet-flavoured e-cigarette liquids, like mango and mint – further increases its popularity among teens and adolescents. Roughly 70% of adolescents who are currently using e-cigarettes have used a flavoured liquid, and those adolescents said they were more likely to try traditional cigarettes than those who didn’t use flavours.
Many researchers believe that e-cigarettes could be a useful ‘harm reduction tool’ for adults by promoting their transition from traditional cigarettes to e-cigarettes. While it is beneficial for adults to switch to e-cigarettes which are less harmful than traditional cigarettes, the downside is that adolescents start initiating vaping.
Should e-cigarettes be a better alternative for adults’ traditional smokers, we should focus our efforts on policy changes that could label them as a medical device or cessation aid that could help regular smokers stop, if we also prevent the costs to adults from being high. In doing so, we could potentially decrease the level of e-cigarette exposure among teens and adolescents. Eventually, the need to prevent adolescents from vaping becomes increasingly important, this results in a greater inclination toward stronger regulations.
Category(s):Child Development
Source material from Psychology Today
