Vaping among teenagers and young adults has become a major public health issue in recent years. While vaping was originally marketed and intended as a safer alternative to combustible cigarette smoking, research has begun to show significant health risks associated with e-cigarette use, particularly among young people whose brains are still developing. As vaping continues to rise in popularity, it is important for researchers to examine the potential short and long-term health impacts of vaping on youth as well as the underlying factors influencing vaping behaviors. Therefore, this paper aims to explore what is known about the health effects of vaping on youth based on existing research. It will also identify gaps in the research and offer recommendations for future studies.
A key principle of the American Psychological Association (APA) is evidence-based practice, which involves making decisions and recommendations based on factual research findings (American Psychological Association, 2013). Thus, this paper primarily draws upon peer-reviewed journal articles, government reports, and research from reputable health organizations to understand the current state of vaping research. Data and facts are carefully cited using APA format to ensure credibility and transparency regarding where the information originates.
According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report (2020), e-cigarette use among youth and young adults in the U.S. increased sharply during 2011-2019, which public health officials have warned is reversing decades of progress in declining youth tobacco use. Studies show that vaping is increasingly replacing traditional cigarette smoking among teens – the percentage of high school students who reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days rose from 1.5% in 2011 to over 27% in 2019, offsetting declines in other tobacco products during that same period (Gentzke et al., 2019). Moreover, some youth who report vaping have never previously smoked conventional cigarettes (Miech et al., 2020). This rapid uptake among youth is a serious concern given that nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm brain development andmay lead to future addiction and substance use disorders (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016).
When it comes to understanding potential health risks of vaping, there are several key issues that remain understudied due to the relative newness of the products and behaviors. Currently, the long-term effects of vaping are still unknown, as data on health outcomes of those who began vaping as youth in the late 2000s and 2010s will not be available for many years. Existing research has provided some insights into short-term effects:
Lung Health: Vaping exposes the lungs to a variety of chemicals through inhalation of heated aerosols. Several studies have found links between e-cigarette use and increased cough, wheeze, and asthma diagnoses (Morean et al., 2018; Wills et al., 2019). One recent study also found e-cigarette use associated with a higher likelihood of developing lung disease over a 2-year period (Rizzo & Kim, 2022). The long-term respiratory consequences of vaping remain undefined. Further research with longer follow up periods is still critical.
Nicotine Addiction: As e-liquids often contain high levels of nicotine, vaping can expose youth to levels of nicotine that rival or exceed traditional cigarettes. This risks developing nicotine addiction among youth who might otherwise avoid or minimize tobacco use (Ambrose et al., 2015). Adolescent nicotine use could rewire reward centers in the brain and facilitate future substance use. Potential differences by vape device or e-liquid characteristics are still not fully understood.
Mental Health: Emerging research associates youth e-cigarette use with mental health conditions like depression and anxiety (Leventhal et al., 2020). Whether this is a causal relationship or due to shared risk factors needs further study. No studies have looked at the long-term psychiatric effects of vaping through adulthood. Effects may depend on nicotine dosage and how long someone has vaped.
Poisonings: Cases of accidental nicotine poisonings from e-liquids among young children and teenagers have increased dramatically in recent years as vaping has gained popularity (Kavuluru et al., 2021). This poses risks during product handling and disposal. Further policy work may help address unnecessary exposures.
Besides the physical health concerns, a key aspect of vaping that warrants further research is the mechanisms driving youth uptake and prevalence. Many factors are likely at play at the individual, community, and societal levels. Studies have found that flavored e-liquids and marketing techniques that appeal to youth are important contributors to the vaping epidemic (Jackler et al., 2019). The influence of social media, peer networks, and family also requires deeper exploration. Longitudinal surveys following youth over time could provide insight into how these influences vary developmentally and interact to shape vaping behaviors. Such data would aid the design of improved prevention programs tailored to different youth populations.
Overall, while vaping studies to date have identified some concerning short-term health risks, much uncertainty remains regarding long-term consequences – both physical and mental. Given the rapid ascent of vaping among youth in recent years greatly exceeding projections, it is imperative that research in this area accelerates. Some key recommendations for advancing the evidence base include: 1) Conducting larger, longer duration cohort studies that follow youth who vape into adulthood to monitor health impacts over 10-20 years; 2) Standardizing vape product testing methods to better characterize toxicity of different e-liquids and devices; 3) Employing longitudinal qualitative designs to deepen understanding of social and developmental influences on uptake vs cessation; and 4) Increasing biomedical research on how vaping specifically impacts the still-maturing adolescent brain and lungs. With a wiser comprehension of vaping risks, policies can be optimized to prevent youth addiction and support current teen and young adult vapers seeking to quit. Protecting the well-being of young people ought to remain a top priority for future research in this domain.
Youth vaping prevalence has dramatically increased in recent years and poses serious threats to adolescent health and development. While certain short-term health risks like respiratory impacts and nicotine addiction have been identified, the long-term consequences of youth vaping remain largely unknown due to the newness of the products and behaviors. The evidence base would benefit tremendously from larger, longer term cohort studies and greater mechanistic research on vaping’s developmental impacts. Understanding the individual and environmental factors driving youth e-cigarette use is also critical for guiding targeted prevention. Future studies adhering to ethical standards and utilizing rigorous methodologies as outlined in this paper can help optimize policies to curtail youth vaping and protect public health.
Andrew Stroud