Back to Top

You may have heard that vaping is safe. That it’s just water. That there are no harmful effects on your body.
But the truth is,

What is it?

Electronic Nicotine Delivery Devices (ENDS)

  • Electronic cigarettes, vapes, e-hookahs, vape pens, tank systems, mods, JUULs, Puff Bars, Suroin Drop, Blu …
  • Most devices have 4 components: a cartridge or tank to hold e-liquid, a heating element (atomizer), a battery, and a mouthpiece.
  • The liquid is heated and produces an aerosol cloud that is inhaled into the lungs.
  • The cloud is not “just water,” it contains ultrafine metallic particles, and can contain nicotine, flavoring, additives, and other harmful chemicals.

Harmful Chemicals

Most pods and e-liquid contain nicotine and some can contain the same amount of nicotine as a pack of cigarettes. Over 42 chemicals/ingredients have been found in e-liquids including:

  • Nicotine
  • Acrolein
  • Benzoic Acid
  • Propylene glycol
  • Glycerine
  • Diacetyl
  • Vitamin E Acetate
  • Heavy metals (nickel, lead, tin)
  • Ultra-fine particles

Many of these chemicals have been FDA approved for use in food preparation and/or cosmetics, but the full effects of inhaling them are still unknown.

Framing the Issue

  • 2007 –The first e-cigarette is sold
  • 2015 – JUUL is available for sale
  • 2018 – JUUL accounts for 76% of the e-cigarette market
  • 2020 – 20 million JUULs are sold each month

Using e-cigarettes has been shown to increase the likelihood of smoking cigarettes among young people, and vaping THC (the active ingredient in marijuana) has been linked to many, but not all, of recent vaping related deaths.

15 to 17-year olds are 16X more likely to use JUUL/pod devices over 25 to 34-year olds, and pre-filled pod systems now use nicotine salts. A formula that allows for much higher levels of nicotine to be e¤cient delivery with less irritation compared to earlier generations of e-cigarettes.

Tobacco Laws and Regulations

  • The vaping industry is currently not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration.
  • December 20, 2019, a Federal law was passed and took effect immediately declaring tobacco products, including electronic nicotine delivery devices (ENDS), may NOT be sold to individuals under the age of 21.
  • It is no longer legal to manufacture flavored liquids used in pod devices (JUUL like products).
  • Manufacturers may still produce flavored single-use products (Puff Bars) and flavored liquids that are used in refillable devices.
Devices

Do you know someone who is vaping?

Keep Your Eyes Open…

  • Many vaping companies are owned by Big Tobacco who target specific groups including teens.
  • Vaping devices are often designed to look like everyday items including: I Phones, watches and flash drives
  • Clothing and accessories have been designed to hide vaping devices.
  • Because an e liquid is mango or cucumber flavored doesn’t mean it’s healthy
  • If a device says 0% nicotine, you can’t be sure … it’s not regulated.

Warning Signs

  • Unexplained sweet scent
  • Increased thirst
  • They are skipping caffeine drinks
  • Nosebleeds
  • Smoker’s cough/Bloody sores in the mouth
  • Flash drive device that doesn’t look normal
  • Discarded atomizers
  • Discarded pods/containers
  • Receipts from online and in store purchases

What can you do to safeguard your teen against vaping?

Ready to Quit?

  • This is Quitting
    Text “Quit” to 706-222-QUIT (7848) – for adolescents
  • PA Quitline
    Free phone counseling 1-800-784-8669
  • SmokefreeTXT
    Text “QUIT” to IQUIT (47848)