VAPING OUTBREAK IN THE USA: The E-cigarette Epidemic Among Youth
VAPING OUTBREAK IN THE USA: The E-cigarette Epidemic Among Youth
In recent weeks authorities in the US scramble to understand a rash of mysterious vaping-linked illnesses that have put healthy people in the hospital with serious lung diseases. Federal officials say there have been at least 1,080 injuries and 18 deaths as 0f October 1, 2019, connected to e-cigarettes, battery-powered devices that can look like flash drives and pens and that mimic smoking by heating liquids containing substances such as nicotine and marijuana (THC).
Vaping has risen dramatically in popularity around the world — from 7 million users in 2011 to 35 million a few years ago — as smoking rates decline.
WHAT ARE E-CIGARETTES?
E-cigarettes are electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol, or mix of small particles in the air.
E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid.
Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items. Larger devices such as tank systems, or “mods,” do not look like other tobacco products.
E-cigarettes are known by many different names. They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” “tank systems,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).”
Using an e-cigarette is sometimes called “vaping” or “JUULing.”
PREVALENCE OF E-CIGARETTEs USE
It’s estimated that globally around 0.9 percent of the population had a drug use (excluding alcohol) disorder in 2017. The highest prevalence was in the United States where around 1-in-30 had a drug use addiction in 2017.
When these trends are broken down by age, we see that globally, adults in their twenties are most likely to have a drug use disorder; more than 2 percent (1-in-50) people aged 20-29 do. In the United States, 8-9 percent of adults in their early twenties had a drug use disorder in 2017; this is around 1-in-11 or 1-in-12.
It’s estimated that globally around 71 million people had a drug use disorder in 2017.
The prevalence of substance use disorders is highest across Eastern Europe and the United States, occurring in 5-6 percent of the population. This means around 1-in-20 suffers from substance dependency. Across Western and Central Europe, the Americas and Oceania, this prevalence typically ranges from 2-5 percent. Across Africa, the Middle East and Asia this prevalence are typically lower at 1-2 percent. When we look at gender differences in substance use disorders we see that in every country the prevalence is greater in men than women.
E-cigarettes have been sold for more than a decade, but reports of vaping-linked illness started proliferating this year in the US.
An investigation by state health departments in Illinois and Wisconsin traces the first signs of illness among 53 tracked patients to April. The victims — mostly young men with a median age of 19 — overwhelmingly ended up in the hospital, many under intensive care. A third went on respirators.
Since 2014, e-cigarettes have been the most commonly used tobacco product among US middle and high school students. Between 2017 and 2018 alone, the number of youth who used e-cigarettes went up by 1.5 million. In fact, the US Surgeon General has called e-cigarette use by youth an “epidemic,” and warned that it threatens decades of progress toward making sure fewer young people use tobacco.
Research also shows that e-cigarette advertising uses many of the same themes that have led to cigarette smoking among young people. In 2016, nearly 7 out of 10 US middle and high school students saw ads for e-cigarettes in stores, on the Internet, on TV, or in magazines or newspapers
RECENT UPDATE
As of October 1, 2019, 1,080 lung injury cases associated with using e-cigarettes, or vaping, products have been reported to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) from 48 states and 1 U.S. territory.
Eighteen deaths have been confirmed in 15 states.
All patients have reported a history of using e-cigarettes, or vaping, products.
Most patients report a history of using THC-containing products. The latest national and regional findings suggest products containing THC plays a role in the outbreak.
Approximately 70% of patients are male.
Approximately 80% of patients are under 35 years old.
16% of patients are under 18 years old
21% of patients are 18 to 20 years old
NICOTINE CAN HARM DEVELOPING BRAINS
Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, the highly addictive drug in tobacco. Nicotine is especially harmful to young people. The human brain keeps developing until around the age of 25. Using products with nicotine under age 25 can harm the part of the brain responsible for memory, attention, and learning.
Many young people who use e-cigarettes also smoke regular cigarettes. There is evidence that young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke regular cigarettes in the future. Also, even though the liquid that e-cigarettes heat to form an aerosol (vapor) has fewer harmful ingredients than cigarette smoke, it still contains harmful ingredients—including heavy metals and even cancer-causing chemicals—that can be breathed deep into the lungs. The part of the e-cigarette that heats up may also explode or cause serious burns.
BE AWARE OF “HIDDEN” E-CIGARETTES
Your child's e-cigarette may be disguised as a USB flash drive
If you work with young people, you may have seen an e-cigarette device without even knowing it. The most often sold e-cigarette in the United States is a brand called JUUL, which looks like a USB flash drive. JUUL “pods,” which contain liquid heated by the device, have as much nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes. They also come in flavors, which can make them more appealing to young people. E-cigarettes can also look like other everyday items, such as highlighters, credit cards, remote controls, and pens.
“One of our graduates who I’m still in touch with tells me he once left his vape in my classroom,” Lauren W. says. “Since it looked like a USB drive, and this was before I had any idea what vaping was, I just gave it back to him and never even thought twice about it.”
EVERYONE HAS A PART TO PLAY
That’s why it’s up to you to educate yourself about e-cigarettes. Know what to say when the topic comes up. The earlier and more often you speak with young people about e-cigarettes, the more likely they are to listen.
It’s important that schools, community centers, and other places where young people gather during or after school hours have tobacco-free campus policies. If there is already a tobacco-free policy in place, make sure students know about it and that it is enforced. School or community events should also set a good example by not accepting sponsorship from tobacco or e-cigarette companies.
Young people are also more likely to pay attention if the adults in their lives whom they trust and respect are willing to talk. Teachers and administrators can use health classes and assemblies this upcoming school year to invite students to ask questions about e-cigarettes. There are many e-cigarette prevention programs teachers can use in their classrooms to let students know about the risks of e-cigarette use.
It’s also important to give students who do use e-cigarettes and want to stop the support and resources they need to quit. Many resources are available, including a mobile app to help youth quit using e-cigarettes.
Finally, if you use any tobacco products, commit to quitting. Kids are more likely to use tobacco products if others around them do. So lead by example – be tobacco-free. As students return to classes this school year, you can help make sure they are more informed and confident than ever about making healthy choices.
FURTHER READINGS AND REFERENCES:
· https://www.theverge.com/2019/10/3/20897560/vaping-lung-injury-toll-cdc-investigation-fda-deaths
· https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm
· https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/surgeon-general-advisory/index.html
· https://ourworldindata.org/drug-use
AUTHOR: John NYAH MBOUT, SRN, BSN, HAAD-RN.
I am currently a practicing RN and writer. CEO and Founder of the nursing blog NursesConnectnet.com. Holder of a Diploma in State Registered Nursing and a Bachelor of Science in Nursing from Texila American University. I’m also a certified ACLS Provider. I’m licensed with the Cameroon Nurses Association and the Department Of Health Abu Dhabi-UAE. Presently, I’m an RN at NMC Provita International Medical Center (Long Term Acute Care and Rehab Center) Abu Dhabi-UAE. I am passionate about the evolution in nursing and belief in the adage “A BRAIN THAT RESTS RUST”!!! I research and write short articles on up-to-date nursing and health-related issues.
With the increasing growth and expansion in the nursing field, supported by up-to-date Evidence-Based Findings, it is but obvious that a simple Google search brings forth various publications on a single topic thereby leaving the person bored and indecisive on which to choose to read. It is for this reason that I aim at summarizing the numerous updated publications into my short articles for your easy and quick reading on the go. I have no doubt that my piece of work would go a long way to adding some new insights into your professional growth. I feel gratified when I share nursing knowledge through my writings. HAPPY READING!!!
RN,BNS, Msc Palliative/ Hopice care Nurse ( in view) ACL,BCL, Mental health and Substance Abuse/Behavioral therapist, Research Surveyor at AEDA, Cameroon Nurse Activist ????
8 个月I did carried out a research something similar to this on Shishay smoking in Cameroon in 2022 and lucky enough shishay smoking has been ban in Cameroon I must say it's a call for concerns to the US drug agencies regarding substance Abuse to raise measures amongst this age groups vulnerable on this E cigarette
Actively applying for the post of microbiologist/ quality control officer/ Food safety&Hygiene officer In FMCG sector
5 年Nice one Sir. Greater height