A new report shows e-cigarette use rising among teens. With vaping on the rise, should parents be concerned? 

Electronic cigarettes, also known as e-cigarettes or e-cigs, are increasingly popular. People who use these devices call themselves “vapers” in contrast to “smokers.” That’s because users inhale a nicotine-rich vapor created by heating liquid nicotine, as opposed to breathing the smoke from burning tobacco. 

You see vapers on the streets, on TV, and according to the latest report from the Centers for Disease Control, among a growing number of youth. E-cigarette use among middle and high school students tripled from 2013 to 2014—from 4.5 percent to 13.4 percent. Or put another way, among high school students, the number of e-cigarette users jumped from 660,000 to 2 million in a single year. Among middle school children, the number of users increased from 120,000 to 450,000. In addition, this is the first time that e-cigarette use has surpassed that of other tobacco products among youth. 

Is your child or grandchild a vaper?

Statistically, there is a good chance they are or will be in the future if this trend continues.

Should we be alarmed by this dramatic rise? After all, there is an active public health debate about the use of e-cigarettes, at least among adults. Many well-respected public health leaders argue that e-cigarettes are preferable to smoking and all smokers should be encouraged to switch from tobacco to e-cigs. Equally well-respected public health leaders have argued the opposite. At present, these devices are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and there is no research to support their long-term safety or effectiveness as a smoking cessation aid (a main reason that many adults say they use them). Until evidence of their safety or efficacy exists, many consider it unethical to encourage wide-spread use of e-cigarettes as opposed to promoting quitting smoking altogether, particularly when there are safe and effective alternative forms of nicotine replacement therapy available to help smokers who want to quit.

But the issue is more straightforward for youth. There is no legitimate public health argument to support or defend the use of e-cigarettes among children and adolescents. Moreover, reports of abuse and harm caused by these devices are increasing as they become more popular among adults and youth, and many of these harms affect the young. For example, accidental poisonings due to exposure to the liquid nicotine in these devices have soared recently. Cases jumped 300 percent from 2012 to 2013, many of these cases involving young children.

Hitting home

Just this week our local news in Seattle reported on a disturbing new trend in high schools. Reportedly, some children now mix the liquid nicotine with soda and drink it to “get high.” Presumably, they unaware of the risk of accidental poisoning and may even be misled by claims of some that use of this “pure nicotine” is a safe alternative to smoking. 

It is no surprise that youth have taken to this new drug so quickly. E-cigarettes come in a variety of flavors like strawberry, chocolate, cinnamon roll, and sour cherry—all designed to appeal to young palates. And they are convenient to purchase over the Internet. I’ve never purchased an e-cigarette, but I routinely receive email enticements to order my free trial kit and start today! I expect similar digital advertising finds its way to many adolescents.

In April 2014, the FDA announced it plans to expand its authority over e-cigarettes. Until that time, the sale and manufacture of these devices remains largely unregulated. As the popularity of these devices increases, many wonder or worry—is my child a vaper? This is a legitimate worry in my opinion and a good topic of conversation for the dinner table tonight.

Jennifer McClure, PhD