Pam Gibb, Moorhead Schools Communications
Coordinator
info@moorheadschools.org

During his presentation “Vaping: the New Teen Public Health Concern” at Moorhead High this spring, Frank White, sociology professor at University of North Dakota, described the dangers of teen vaping for the parents, students, staff and community members attending.
Vaping is inhaling vapor through the mouth from an electronic device (e-cig) that heats up and vaporizes a liquid or solid, White said. He said people aren’t viewing vaping as a drug so it’s seen as safer, but he reminded the audience that nicotine is a highly addictive toxic substance. One pod for vaping contains 200 puffs, which is equivalent to a pack of cigarettes.
“When you look at people who are vaping, they may go through a pod a day,” White said. “Some may go through the pod in a week.”
Since the pods are not FDA regulated or controlled the amounts of nicotine vary. Vaping allows the nicotine to bypass the digestive system and go directly to the lungs, bloodstream and brain. White said the rush is faster, but it can cause more damage, including affecting memory.
“Younger people with immature organs are trying nicotine products,” White said. “When your brain is not fully formed you’re more susceptible to addiction.”
Most people’s brains don’t fully develop until their mid 20s, and the last part of the brain to fully develop is the part responsible for rational thought and common sense. If you don’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes until after age 22, you have a lower chance of addiction, White said.
In 2003 early e-cigarettes looked like cigarettes, but then the design changed to resemble pens. Now there are versions like Juul that look like flash drives, which White said makes it popular with younger people as they are easily concealed.
“They are vaping in plain sight,” he said, describing several stealth vaping techniques.
With e-cigs available on the Internet and in retail stores, even raising the age limit for purchasing doesn’t prevent access.
“That’s a good move, but that’s not enough,” White said.
He noted that because the products are largely unregulated unsuspecting, often younger, users may purchase counterfeit pods.
According to White, 90 percent of addictions have roots in the teen years.
The JUUL industry has stopped using models and celebrities in advertising, has eliminated social media ads, has pulled some flavored products off the shelf, and will be instituting a serial number tracking program this fall. However, White said teens filled the void by posting their own pictures and videos and sharing how to stealth vape.
He urged prevention efforts to educate younger students about the dangers and have teens speak about how vaping is harmful.
“Get the kids who aren’t using to impact the younger kids before they get older,” White said. “Student athletes are good social impactors.”
Because of the relative newness of e-cigarettes there isn’t long-term research into the dangers. Products may be modified or misused, which can lead to further dangers, White said. Vaping nicotine can lead to vaping alcohol or drugs such as meth or cocaine.
White encouraged parents to improve their drug knowledge and communicate with their teens. He said to watch for charging devices, heating coils, pipe cleaners, or used or defective pods, and that unexplained nosebleeds, discolored teeth, and vapor’s cough, which is an unexplained persistent cough from the accumulation of impurities, can be signs of vaping.
“You don’t have the carcinogens of cigarette smoke, but do have fine particles of nickel, tin, mercury and lead,” White said.