Vaping Epidemic Among Teens

Teen vaping has become an increasingly wide epidemic as it is causing a breakout of new and upcoming health issues. Vaping has caused more health issues in the last year than any other health related issue. With teen vaping on the rise, doctors are unsure of the long term effects vaping is going to cause. Vaping is described to be a “healthy alternative” to smoking cigarettes but it is now coming to light that this was an attempt by the Cigarette industries to increase their sales. With the number of teens vaping increasing, and cigarette sales in decline, marketing vaping as a “healthy alternative” is a last hope for cigarette companies to attract the new generation.

An alarming number of teens tried vaping last year according to a survey. The study suggests that vaping could be causing nicotine addiction in teens to be increasing. Vaping is a device that heats liquid into vapour which is then inhaled. The vapour can contain nicotine, flavouring, and other harmful chemicals. Some vapes can also contain marijuana, hash oil, and other substances. Being exposed to nicotine at such a young age can cause long term health issues damaging the brain as well as addiction. More than 44,000 students participated in the study in 2018 and study concluded that roughly 37% of kids in the 12th grade said they tried vaping in 2018 compared to 27% in 2017. “Teens are clearly attracted to the marketable technology and flavourings seen in vaping devices,” says Dr. Nora D. Volkow, director of NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse. “However, it is urgent that teens understand the possible effects of vaping on overall health, the development of the teen brain, and the potential for addiction.”

Almost all forms of tobacco advertising are banned, therefore cigarette companies are advertising vaping to teens as they know that 30.7% of vapers start smoking cigarettes within 6 months while only 8.1% of non vapers start smoking cigarettes. A study was taken with middle school students and 52.8 % said they saw retail ads for vaping, 35.8% saw internet ads, and 34.1 percent recalled TV and Movie ads. In contrast 56.3% of high school students saw retail ads for cigarettes, 42.9% saw internet ads and 38.4% said they saw Tv and movie ads. These companies are advertising vaping as a healthy alternative to smoking cigarettes, but in reality it has not been proven. There are no conclusive findings about the long term effects of vaping because it is still too new. Companies are not required by law to put the ingredients on the vape juice and 66% of teens believe it just contains flavouring, while 13.7% don’t know, and 13.2% say it contains nicotine.

Cigarette companies represents the Bourgeoisie as they are the rich and the Proletariat are represented by those using the vapes because they are influenced by these companies and help the rich, stay rich. Since it is now illegal for cigarettes companies to to advertise tobacco, the companies are now advertising vaping as the healthy alternative to smoking. By having the ability to to advertise to the youth, this opens the opportunity to bring in new smokers and attract youth where Cigarette companies would not normally have the opportunity. Since it is proven these youth will likely transition to cigarettes over time, this is a huge financial win. Not only does vaping open the opportunity to advertise to youth, but it is also bringing in new young smokers who will in time become long term users for cigarettes. This is about money and not about healthier alternatives. There is a steady decrease in the number of smokers globally, too about one billion, says the World Health Organization. The number of vapers has been increasing rapidly from about seven million in 2011 to 41 million in 2018. Euromonitor research group estimates that it will reach 55 million by 2021.

Cigarette companies are creating false consciousness with their advertising by influencing teens to think in order to fit in they must vape. False Consciousness is defined as a way of thinking that prevents a person from perceiving the true nature of their social situations and these companies are creating false consciousness by oppressing teens into thinking in order to be cool and fit in they must vape. For example teens can start vaping for many reasons, a common reason is peer pressure. Teens can feel obligated to try it if they believe it makes them “cool” or fit in. Youth also see many celebrities vaping and smoking and think that they are cool and want to be more like them. Cigarette companies are giving teens no choice but to believe that vaping is cool. They are advertising their product directly to youth and trying to pull them in. These companies are creating teen friendly flavours that they can connect with such as sour patch kids or cotton candy which are familiar to them. These companies are also advertising their products at cool venues such as music festivals where teens will think everything seen is cool. A study with youth found that “43 percent of young people who ever used e-cigarettes tried them because of appealing flavors.” The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act from 2009 and the Master Settlement Agreement of 1998 prevents cigarette and tobacco companies from sponsoring music festivals and sports events because these tactics are directly linked to youth tobacco use. JUUL sponsored the Sundance Film Festival in Utah which featured a vapour lounge and a guest performer which promoted vaping to those attending this festival.

As the number of teens vaping is projected to increase to 55 million by 2021, this is going to become a health epidemic in Canada. I believe the head rush associated with vaping is not worth the health risks associated with long term vaping and cigarette use. Similar to the US and Trump's new ruling that says vapes cannot be sold due to deaths associated I believe Canada should follow in their footsteps by creating a similar ban. I believe that legislation should change that vaping cannot be advertised to teens. How many of us have been drawn in by these tactics of the cigarette companies and their marketing ploys? They have drawn us in and we remain victims to their advertising. Will this ever change?