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N the Red
Sept. 16, 2019
Vape’s hidden scheme
Tobacco industry secretly uses vape pens to increase number of nicotine addicts John Yun
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Graphic by John Yun. Information from CDC
yunjoh000@hsestudents.org
ictures of ominous clouds of smoke drifting from teenagers’ mouths have filled social media. The similarity between these pictures is not only the smoke but also the small devices that teenagers grasp in each photo. With health concerns about cigarettes, the tobacco industry has started to sell vape pens. Claiming it as a safer alternative and a way to stop smokers’ addictions, the industry has pushed and promoted the vape pen. However, rather than reducing the number of people addicted to nicotine, this new device has become a roaring sensation amongst teens, increasing the amount of nicotine addicts. According to BBC, the number of vape pen users has increased from seven million in 2011 to 35 million in 2016. Following the rise in popularity of the vape pen, Juul, many vaping devices have become widely used by teens, and other types of vaping devices have become common for illegal substances such as marijuana. This increase in popularity of vape pens seems to be part of the grand scheme of the tobacco industry: to increase cigarette users. According to the Truth Initiative, 65% of youth in 2015 who used an e-cigarettes in the last 30 days also used another tobacco product in the same frame of time. Furthermore, young adults who use vape pens are four times more likely to start smoking cigarettes, according a study by the University of Pittsburgh Schools of the Health Sciences. This evidence shows that vaping is not only an alternate form of smoking for smokers but also a way for non-smokers to become addicted to cigarettes faster. Because of the similarities to cigarettes, vape pens can influence users to move towards cigarettes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, many e-cigarettes users also smoke tobacco. Because there is not much evidence supporting the fact that the vape pen is harmful, critics’ arguments seem to fall short of causing students to stop using their devices, allowing the tobacco industry to successfully create another generation of nicotine addicts. Although the exact effects of vaping are unknown, more than 354 possible cases of
vaping-related lung illnesses have been under investigation in 29 states as of August 30, according to the Washington Post. Symptoms include difficulty breathing, shortness of breath and chest pain, coughing, fever, diarrhea and vomiting. Seeing these effects, students should refrain from picking up the habits of using vape pens. Because there is not enough research, the long-term effects of these devices are unknown and potentially dangerous. Some of the products in vape juice could be consumable but not smokable. Due to the increasing number of minors using vape pens, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has been increasing restrictions on vape pens, issuing new regulatory requirements for these devices. However, this seems to be part of the plan of the tobacco industry. With increasing restrictions on the purchasing of vape pens and pods, it seems natural that these minor nicotine addicts would move to cigarettes because they may be easier to obtain and to satisfy their need for nicotine. Therefore, the industry would be obtaining their goal of gaining capital from this new generation of smokers. However, people should not fall for this scam. The health risks of vape pens are still potent and could have life-crippling impacts. Vape pens are only advertised as a better alternative because tobacco companies are trying to get more people hooked on nicotine. Students that use vape pens should seek out methods to help them stop their addiction. There are various methods such as nicotine patches and nicotine gum that will gradually ease them into lowering their dependence on nicotine. People should also not try picking up the habits of vaping as it could have extremely detrimental effects. Already, over 25% of high schoolers are current vape pen users, and millions of kids are addicted to nicotine, according to Healthline. Due to this scheme, the tobacco industry has already created another generation of nicotine addicts. The world must increase awareness and restrict tobacco products so that gullible children may not become addicted to nicotine and have problems in the future.
