Concerned parent seeks advice about unruly vaping teens

DEAR DR. ROACH >> My teens keep smoking all these flavored, ethereal wand vapors. They claim it tastes good and even try tricks with the vapor. I’m a concerned parent as I hear these are dangerous magic cigarettes. I would like to know more about them and get your advice on how to deal with these unruly teens. — H.R. DEAR READER >> Vaping has become increasingly prevalent, with 1.7 million high school students using these devices. One popular brand is called JUUL, but they also are called vape pens, e-cigarettes or e-hookahs. They are essentially drug delivery devices for nicotine, an addictive and highly toxic substance. (Not all liquids used for vaping contain nicotine, although some labeled “nicotine free” were found to have nicotine.)

Although teens and young adults perceive them as being not at all dangerous or only minimally so, the extent of health dangers is not well known yet. While it’s clear that vaping is not as dangerous as smoking, that’s hardly a stellar recommendation. In addition to nicotine, there are several other health risks in the aerosolized liquid that is inhaled into the lungs. Toxic chemicals, including lead and formaldehyde, are present in the vapor. The usual liquid used, propylene glycol, can cause asthma and allergic symptoms in some users. Similarly, the flavoring agents used can act as lung irritants.

It is concerning that the flavors and packaging used in vaping liquid may be appealing to young people. It is possible but unproven that people who vape are more likely to take up smoking. Thus, vaping has modest dangers in itself, but also might lead to tobacco smoking with its much greater risk of heart disease and cancer, neither of which is yet described with vaping.

I am not an expert on unruly teens. I can provide data and education, which may not be the most effective way of stopping underage use of e-cigarettes. However, as of this writing, the Food and Drug Administration is looking at a host of regulatory actions, which may be more effective in reducing vaping among young users.