Will E-Cigarettes Scar a Generation?
Generation Z have succumb to the temptations of e-cigarettes, a generation likely to never smoke cigarettes. Will this cause long term health effects and lasting damage?
In the 1960s, more than 40 percent of the United States adult population smoked cigarettes (National Center for Health Statistics 2005). As time went on, the health effects that are a result of long term tobacco use were prevalent. Soon, parents and teachers were passing on the message to not smoke cigarettes. In 2017, 14% of U.S. adults were current cigarette smokers. The amount of cigarette smokers significantly decreased and it was no longer commonplace to smoke cigarettes in public settings. So why is it that now in 2019 there have been so many children and young adults having health complications that lead back to smoking? The e-cigarette industry.
Particular brands, like the most common used e-cigarette, juul have marketed specifically towards young adults. The discrete design makes the juul easily concealable. Most young people are vaping, about 68% of the $2 billion e-cigarette market are using the juul. (National Center for Health Research 2019). The juul uses cartridges that are flavored. The fruity flavors make these very appealing to children. Children are able to bring these e-cigarettes into school since they are so discreet. This makes for an unsafe environment for others. Many children use their e-cigarettes in class while the teachers back is turned. Other children are introduced to this behavior and it is extremely easy to join in or be peer pressured into it. However, the health effects are the most concerning.
“As of October 2019, 18 deaths and more than 1,000 cases of serious lung illness related to e-cigarettes have been reported in the media,” (National Center for Health Research 2019). Most teens and young adults think that they are being smart and healthy by not smoking cigarettes, but instead smoking e-cigarettes. This is not true. The effects of vaping are intense and real. E-cigarette companies should be reprimanded for marketing to teens and young adults. The message of not smoking cigarettes and e-cigarettes should be spread. The percentage of people who vape needs to drop. Children can not continue down this road of vaping. “A 2017 study found that non-smoking adults were four times more likely to start smoking traditional cigarettes after only 18 months of vaping, which includes juuling”, (National Center for Health Research 2019). Without changing the standards and regulations of the e-cigarette industry, these products will continue to be mass produced and made easily accessible to younger generations. Without the message spread throughout homes and schools, younger generations will not be educated on the health effects. Change is needed.