Everybody knows that vaping is a dangerous action. We’ve all seen the commercials where young adults our age are seen inhaling metals as they vape, poisoning their bodies, but somehow this doesn’t stop people from taking part. Nearly 20% of high school students use e-cigarettes. According to Truth Initiative, “In 2018, the rapid rise of tobacco products led the U.S. surgeon general to issue an advisory about the youth e-cigarette ‘epidemic.’ In 2019, youth e-cigarette use increased to even higher levels. While the most recent studies show a decrease in youth use in 2020, the rate is still alarmingly high with nearly one in five high school students reporting current e-cigarette use.” Whether it’s peer pressure, wanting to appear rebellious, or something else, youth continue to participate in this risky action. However, none of that is worth risking your life. You know it, and I know it. 

Vaping and smoking are connected to many issues aside from the obvious health problems. For instance, approximately 1000 smokers and nonsmokers are killed in home fires caused by smoking materials such as cigarettes. Similarly, many explosions of e-cigarettes and minor fires occur on a daily basis. A small fire in a trash can at school, perhaps, can disrupt hundreds of students.

People throw their cigarette butts on the ground all the time, seeming to believe that this action is insignificant, but we’ve all seen these white pieces of cigarette littered on the ground, sometimes still burning. Not only is this saliva-covered garbage disgusting, but it harms the environment as well. Small amounts of nicotine from pods and cartridges from vaping can be lethal to animals.

Now, let’s discuss the health risks of vaping. According to Johns Hopkins Medicine, “vaping coats lungs with potentially harmful chemicals. E-liquid concoctions usually include some mix of flavorings, aromatic additives and nicotine or THC (the chemical in marijuana that causes psychological effects), dissolved in an oily liquid base.” In addition to the lungs, research suggests that vaping is harmful to the heart, and heart and lung problems caused by vaping are irreversible. 

It’s undoubtedly true that vaping does not have positive effects, especially in the long-term. Are a few minutes of feeling “good” worth the possibility of severe health problems for the rest of your life? No matter what excuses you can come up with, it’s not. If you stop vaping, your future self will thank you.

Photo Credits: USC News