Teen Health
E-Cigarettes Complicate Teen Nicotine Cessation
By Alex Turner
March 28, 2022
E-cigarettes and vaping have been seen as a positive development for many adult smokers seeking to reduce their tobacco consumption or move towards quitting. However, since their debut around 2007, they have proven detrimental to efforts aimed at reducing teen nicotine use and dependency. A recent study reveals that e-cigarettes not only make smoking more appealing for adolescents but also complicate their attempts to quit. Published in the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), the study examines the percentage of young individuals who struggle to stop using nicotine. It indicates that the rate of teens wanting to quit but failing has regressed by approximately 20 years.
“These findings suggest that the levels of unsuccessful nicotine cessation attempts have reverted to where they stood about 17 years ago for adolescents,” stated lead researcher Clara Johnson, a social research professor at the University of Michigan. The study utilized data from the University of Michigan’s Monitoring the Future project, which surveys hundreds of thousands of students in the 8th, 10th, and 12th grades across the nation. In 1997, roughly 10 percent of respondents reported failed attempts to quit traditional cigarettes, but that figure dropped to below 2 percent by 2020. Yet, the percentage of teens claiming they have tried and failed to quit vaping has been steadily rising, reaching about 4 percent in 2020. Overall, 6 percent of teens reported attempting to quit nicotine at least once that year, marking a 17-year peak.
“Tobacco control measures have been largely responsible for the two-decade reduction in failed nicotine cessation attempts, resulting from a significant decline in adolescent cigarette use since 2000,” Johnson noted. “Regrettably, the recent surge in e-cigarette use among adolescents, alongside the growing number of teens trying and failing to quit, has undermined much of this progress.”
Why Quitting E-Cigarettes Is Challenging
So, why are e-cigarettes more difficult to quit? One factor is the accessibility of vaping products, combined with appealing flavors like cotton candy and mango that attract younger users. Additionally, vaping tends to be more addictive due to the heightened nicotine concentration delivered. “We must enhance our efforts to assist teens addicted to e-cigarettes in quitting,” remarked Sarah Thompson, president of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. “The modern e-cigarette provides nicotine more rapidly, leading to a more severe addiction.”
Parents also face the challenge of combating the false belief that vaping is safe. Although these devices may pose less harm than traditional tobacco products, they are certainly not harmless and can lead to various health issues. Teen vaping reached epidemic levels in 2017, and while the numbers have begun to decline, the CDC still reports around 2 million teens regularly using e-cigarettes.
How Parents Can Address Teen Vaping
One effective strategy is for parents to openly discuss their views on e-cigarettes with their children. A 2019 study found that children were significantly less likely to vape if their parents expressed negative opinions about it. Furthermore, ensuring that kids understand the risks associated with vaping can also deter usage. The same study indicated that kids aware of the dangers of vaping were less likely to engage in it, while those who did tended to harbor common misconceptions. Lastly, staying informed about current vaping trends can help parents understand what products their kids might be using, such as JUUL or Puff Bar.
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Summary
Vaping has significantly reversed the progress made in reducing teen nicotine use over the past two decades, making it increasingly difficult for adolescents to quit. Factors contributing to this challenge include the availability of vaping products and their addictive nature. Parents can play a vital role in combating this issue by discussing the dangers of e-cigarettes and staying informed about current trends.
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