E-cigarettes Use Among Youth

Submitted by Bedford Youth and Family Services

November has been recognized as Substance Abuse Awareness Month in Bedford since 1998. Our hope is to enhance community awareness of alcohol, tobacco, and other drug problems that may exist among children, adolescents, and adults. As the effects of substance abuse are felt by the whole community and need to be addressed by the whole community, we hope to mobilize citizens, community agencies, schools, religious organizations, businesses, and health facilities to work together for education and prevention.

Read the first article in the BYFS Substance Abuse Awareness Month series


Vaping is the act of inhaling vapor from an electronic vaping device or electronic cigarette (e-cigarette). E-cigarettes have become very popular among teens and are now the most commonly used form of nicotine among youth in the United States. Their easy availability, alluring advertisements, various candy flavored e-liquid, and the belief that they’re safer than cigarettes have helped make them appealing to this age group. E-cigarettes are not regulated by the FDA, so there is no uniform labeling of ingredients and no way to know how much nicotine or other chemicals are actually in each e-cigarette.

The teen years are a critical time for brain development, which continues until about the age of 25. Young people who use nicotine products in any form, including e-cigarettes, are at great risk for long-lasting effects. Because nicotine affects the development of the brain’s reward system, continued e-cigarette use can not only lead to nicotine addiction, but it also makes other drugs more pleasurable to a teen’s developing brain. Nicotine also affects the development of brain circuits that control attention and learning. Other risks include mood disorders and permanent problems with impulse control.

For more information on e-cigarettes and how to talk to your kids about the risks, visit:
https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov

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