A Teen's Perspective to Regulating Vaping

In the past few weeks, government officials in the U.S. and other countries have taken quick actions to address health risks from vaping, even though we don’t fully understand them yet. They’re moving to limit or even ban e-cigarettes. Given how slow governments usually are to tackle big issues like climate change or gun violence, my high school friends and I are left wondering: Why the sudden rush to act on vaping?

Sure, we should be worried about the lung illnesses linked to vaping that have popped up recently (though they’re nowhere near the 480,000 annual deaths from cigarettes). A thirteenth person has died, and hundreds more have gotten sick from what seems to be a vaping-related lung illness.

And lots of places are taking quick action in response. For example, New York state passed emergency laws to temporarily ban most flavored e-cigarettes, and India has banned them completely. But are e-cigarettes really such a big health risk that they need emergency action to stop people from using them?

Government Concerns

Governments, parents, and schools are especially worried about the big jump in high school students using e-cigarettes, which went from 1.5% in 2011 to 20.8% in 2018. As a teenager, I’ve seen how common vaping products are among my friends and classmates.

Not everyone vapes, but it’s definitely common. And not just at parties—I've seen kids vaping while driving, in school, or even while doing homework. Before the government jumps into action, they should think about a few things. Like, why do teenagers find e-cigarettes so appealing in the first place? E-cigarettes were meant to be a safer option for people who already smoke, but most teens today don’t smoke cigarettes.

Why Teens Vape

From my viewpoint, most teens start vaping because they want the nicotine buzz, feel peer pressure, or think it’s cool. Many teenagers know vaping isn’t good for them. But the truth is, young people have always done risky things—and they always will. If it’s not e-cigarettes, it’ll be something else.

Cracking down on teenage vaping won’t stop kids from using harmful substances. Teenagers are naturally rebellious. If adults tell them to stop vaping, it might even make them want to do it more.

Plus, if laws make it harder for smokers to get e-cigarettes or flavored pods, many will turn to the black market. Or they might go back to smoking regular cigarettes, which is much deadlier and has been declining for years. The percentage of teens who smoked cigarettes in the past month dropped from 28% in 1996-7 to 5% in 2018, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.

What Should Be Done

So, what should we do about young people and vaping? Start by giving them real, science-based facts about its dangers. It’s like sex education—most schools don’t teach abstinence anymore because it doesn’t work; they teach kids how to be safe and understand risks.

Teenagers respond to real data and solid science.

For example, at a recent climate strike, I joined over 60,000 teens (and some adults) urging officials to make the climate crisis a top priority, given what we know about its dangers. Many held signs quoting Greta Thunberg: “Don’t listen to me, listen to science!” We should do the same with vaping.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has clear info showing that e-cigarettes can harm health, but we still need more facts about the risks and what’s causing recent vape-related health issues.

Teenagers will respond more if the government gets real about the bigger picture.

Comparing Dangers

Is vaping really the biggest danger to kids in America—and globally? Let’s look at the data: Firearms are the second leading cause of death for American youth. Experts say 175 million kids per year will be affected by natural disasters related to climate change. Vaping has been linked to thirteen deaths.

Every life matters, and vaping should be regulated for safety. But in the grand scheme, we need to focus on what’s really putting our youth at risk. Instead of banning flavored e-cigarette pods, President Donald Trump should use his power to ban assault rifles and coal plants.

If they want young people to take them seriously, our officials should listen to science.