What are Electronic Cigarettes (e-cigarettes)
- Battery-powered devices that can deliver nicotine, marijuana, and other drugs in the form of a flavored aerosol. They can look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some resemble pens, USB sticks, and other everyday items.
- They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” “tank systems,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems”
- All JUUL e-cigarettes have a high level of nicotine. According to the manufacturer, a single JUUL pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes.
What are the risks of E-cigarettes
- They contain harmful ingredients including: nicotine, volatile organic compounds, ultrafine particles, cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals (i.e. nickel, tin, and lead), and flavoring (such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease)
- Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm brain development which continues until about age 25
- Nicotine is toxic to developing fetuses and is a health danger for pregnant women
- E-cigarettes marketed as zero percent nicotine have been found to actually contain nicotine
- Bystanders are exposed to these risks through secondary exposure
- They can cause unintended injuries:
- Devices that use high heat can irritate the lungs
- Defective e-cigarettes batteries have caused fires and explosions, some of which have resulted in serious injuries
- Acute nicotine exposure can be toxic. Children and adults have been poisoned by swallowing, breathing, or absorbing e-cigarette liquid
Health Awareness
- E-cigarettes are not currently FDA approved as an aid to quit smoking.
- Young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to go on to use regular cigarettes.
- The long-term health effects are unknown.
If you need help quitting, contact Student Health and Wellness OR call 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669)