Teenage use of e-cigarettes or vaping is skyrocketing.  The National Youth Tobacco Survey shows alarming trends from 2011 to the present.  In 2011 only 1.5% of our teens used an E-Cigarette product.¹  Today over 27% report use, which means that over 3.6 million youth are using these products!

Kent County data from our state survey, the Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth (MiPHY) identifies 15% of our teens used an electronic vapor product in 2018-2019.²

The concerns raised by use of e-cigarettes are growing quickly.  The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports by mid-October nearly 1,500 cases of lung illness in 49 states were linked to vaping and 33 people have died.  The individuals are mostly young, with 80% of the cases under 35 years of age.

Outbreaks of the disease and deaths have been limited to the U.S.  Most have developed severe lung disease which is similar to a chemical burn, and is not reversible. The liquid used in E-cigarettes can contain nicotine, CBD (cannabidiol) and THC (tetrahydrocannabinol) oils, and other substances and additives. The latest findings suggest products containing THC, the psychoactive product in marijuana that produces the “high’, are linked to most of the cases. However, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and CDC is still not clear that there is any one ingredient that has emerged that has caused this disease.It remains under investigation.³

What Is it?

What is an E-cigarette?  E-cigarettes are battery powered devices that usually contain a nicotine-based liquid that is vaporized and inhaled.  They are often called ENDS (electronic nicotine delivery systems).

These products use an ‘e-liquid’ that may contain nicotine, as well as varying compositions of flavorings, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin and other ingredients.  The liquid is heated to create an aerosol that the user inhales.  ENDS may be made to look like conventional cigarettes, cigars or pipes.  Some resemble pens or USB flash drives.  Others have tank systems or mods, and have little resemblance to cigarettes.⁴

For adults, much of the marketing is with the label of an Electronic Nicotine Delivery System.  Some brand names include JUUL, Vuse, MarkTen and blu.  A student is more likely to refer to an e-cigarette as a JULL or Vape.  They are also known commonly as vape-pens, e-hookahs or mods. Below are examples of the many types of e-cigarettes that may be purchased.⁵

Why Teens Use:⁶

According to the results from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, Findings from FDA, CDC and NCI (National Cancer Institute) 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2019:

• 31% of teens report that they chose to use e-cigarettes because of the flavors available.
• 39%  of teens use because their family or friends ‘use’.
• 17% of teens believe these products are less harmful than other tobacco products.

What We Know:

These products are dangerous and addictive.  Individuals are developing serious lung disease and some have died.  Legislation to ban flavor products is controversial.  Research is limited to know the facts or cause.  The CDC recommends that people should not use e-cigarettes or vaping products that contain THC or buy any products from an unlicensed dealer.  These products should never be used by youths, young adults or women who are pregnant.  There is no safe tobacco product, including e-cigarettes.

How Can I Learn More

On December 13th,  Kent ISD will be hosting a Health Ambassadors Workshop: The Truth About E-cigarettes and Opioid Panel Presentation.  Participants will hear from Michigan Department of Health and Human Services expert consultants as they share the research, the FDA stance, legislation status, and more.  A panel of local agency specialists will speak out on trends in our region, services provided by local agencies for those addicted, and resources available to individuals and families struggling with addition. Discover the new K-12 opioid lessons made available this fall to all MI teachers who currently teach health using our Michigan Model for Health state curriculum, or how to access this important resource.

Click here to join this important workshop on December 13th!

#HealthEd #WeLeadLearning #KentISDpd

1] Youth Tobacco Use: Results from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, Findings from FDA, CDC and NCI 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 2019 
[2] Michigan Profile for Healthy Youth Survey, Michigan Department of Education, 2019
[3] Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, October 19 2019.
[4] Vaporizers, E-Cigarettes, and other Electronic nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS), U.S. Food and Drug Administration, September 2019
[5] Questions and Answers on the National Youth Tobacco Survey: how We Collect and Analyze Data to Understand Youth Tobacco Use, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, October 2019
[6] Youth Tobacco Use: Results from the National Youth Tobacco Survey, Findings from FDA, CDC and NCI 2018 National youth Tobacco Survey, 2019

This blog post was written by Cheryl Blair, Health Consultant and edited by Amanda Walma, Professional Development Coordinator at Kent ISD.