What is Vaping? What is Tobacco?

Vaping

The act of inhaling vapor produced by an e-cigarette, vape pens, JUUL, or similar device.

The components of a vape are a mouth piece, a battery, a cartridge that contains the e-liquid, and a heating part. The heating part turns the liquid into an aerosol that is inhaled into the lungs.

The liquid usually contains a propylene glycol or vegetable glycerin liquid that contains nicotine, flavorings, and various chemicals. Some even have THC which is the psychoactive substance often seen in marijuana.

Tobacco

Plant that is indigenous to the Americas that contains nicotine.

It contains other chemicals that have been found to be cancer-causing.

It can be smoked in cigarettes, cigars, and pipes, applied to the gums with dip or chew, and can even be inhaled or snuffed.

Prevalence

Vaping:

  • In 2019: 27.5% of high school students had used a vape/e-cigarette in the last 30 days
  • Over 60% of people 15-21 year-olds who vape do not know that the vapes/JUUL contain nicotine
  • In 2018: 7.6% of 18-24 year-olds vape regularly
    • 4.2% of those ages 25-44 use regularly
    • 2.1% of those ages 45+ use regularly

Tobacco:

  • “Single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States.” (CDC)
  • 34.3 million of US adults smoke cigarettes
  • 7.8% of all individuals ages 18-24 in the US smoke cigarettes
  • 16.5% of all individuals ages 18-24 in the US smoke cigarettes
  • 16.3% of all individuals ages 18-24 in the US smoke cigarettes
  • 3.4% adults use smokeless tobacco products

Dual-use:

  • In 2016, 55.9% of those ages 13-25 used a tobacco product in addition to e-cigarettes.

Effects:

Vaping

  • Slower brain development:
    • Memory
    • Concentration
    • Learning
    • Self-control
    • Attention
    • Mood
    • Addiction
  • Physical effects:
    • Lung damage
    • EVALI (E-Cigarette, Vaping, or Product Use Associated Illness)

Smoking

  • Compared with nonsmokers, smoking is estimated to increase the risk of:
    • Coronary heart disease by 2 to 4 times,
    • Stroke by 2 to 4 times,
    • Men developing lung cancer by 23 times,
    • Women developing lung cancer by 13 times, and
    • Dying from chronic obstructive lung diseases (such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema) by 12 to 13 times.
  • Smoking causes coronary heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States.
  • Cigarette smoking causes reduced circulation by narrowing the blood vessels (arteries) and puts smokers at risk of developing peripheral vascular disease (i.e., obstruction of the large arteries in the arms and legs that can cause a range of problems from pain to tissue loss or gangrene).
  • Smoking causes abdominal aortic aneurysm (i.e., a swelling or weakening of the main artery of the body—the aorta—where it runs through the abdomen).
  • Smoking causes lung diseases (e.g., emphysema, bronchitis, chronic airway obstruction) by damaging the airways and alveoli (i.e., small air sacs) of the lungs.
  • Smoking can cause cancer.
  • Other symptoms of smoking:
    • Bad breath and yellowing of the teeth
    • Cold hands and feet
    • Frequent or recurrent lung infections and other diseases, such as influenza, common colds, bronchitis, and pneumonia
    • Hypertension (high blood pressure) and rapid heart rate
    • Loss of taste and smell
    • Low oxygen levels in the blood
    • Low tolerance for exercise and fatigue
    • Nicotine-stained fingers and teeth
    • Premature aging and wrinkling of the skin
    • Shortness of breath and difficulty breathing
    • Smoker’s cough (an ongoing loose cough that produces phlegm) and hoarse voice
    • Smokey-smelling clothes and hair

Myths and Vaping

  • Vaping has many health effects and risks. 2,290 cases of E-cigarette, Vaping, or Product Use Associated Lung Injury (EVALI) in 2019.
    • There have been 47 deaths from EVALI
    • It greatly increases the risk of tobacco use and addiction
    • All patients had reported a history of vaping/e-cigarette use
    • 95% of people with EVALI had to be hospitalized
      • 15% were under 18
      • 38% were 18-24
      • 24% were 25-34
      • 23% were 35+

Although for some, it may help them quit smoking cigarettes, most people who utilize vaping as a way to quit smoking become long-term vape users. People who use other methods of quitting do not continue to rely on any nicotine substance.

The flavoring in vaping comes from chemicals and can be harmful to your lungs. Vaping can also expose you to harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, diacetyl and acrolein as well as toxic metals like nickel, tin and lead.

Vaping delivers nicotine to the brain in as little as 10 seconds. Use before the brain is fully developed around the age of 25 can make one more vulnerable to addiction. Research also shows that teens who vape are more likely to try cigarettes.

Myths and Tobacco

Addiction happens quickly and can be very difficult to break.

  • They make smoke particles smaller which makes it easier to absorb nicotine; increasing addiction.
  • Filters, light-tar, or any of those advertisements do not make them safer.
  • Tobacco contains more than 7,000 chemicals, at least 250 of which are highly toxic.
  • Exposure during the teen years to nicotine can impact normal brain development and cause long-lasting effects like mood disorders and increased impulsivity.
  • Smoking even in small amounts increases risk for disease
  • Breathing in tobacco smoke can cause immediate harm to your lungs, blood vessels, and cells.
  • A few cigarettes a week can cause a heart attack
  • The sooner you decide to quit, the sooner you can repair your no matter how long or heavy your use has been
  • Tobacco can cause disease in every part of your body, so its better to quit sooner than never.
  • After 2-5 years of cutting, risk of stroke can reduce to that of a nonsmoker
  • In 10 years the risk for cancer can cut in half
  • “Tens of thousands of nonsmokers die each year from breathing in other people’s smoke” (CDC)
  • Chemicals in tobacco can change your blood chemistry immediately, even secondhand. Clots can form that block arteries to the heart and brain.
  • Smoking out windows does not eliminate smoke, it lingers and can affect anyone in that environment or may come into it.

What does it mean to be Safe, Smart, and Responsible?

  • Limit use
  • Explore what leads to your urge for use and explore the possibility of increase ways to cope with stress and other concerns
  • If you do want to quit, be prepared for possible withdrawal symptoms
  • Find nicotine alternatives like patches
  • If you experience any health effects, go to the doctor immediately

The AOD Office offers Quit Kits to GVSU students who are seeking to quit smoking.

Quit Kits are free and can be picked up in the AOD Office (STU 206)

Quit Kits include: 

  • How To Stop Smoking Pocket Pal
  • Tobacco Use Tracker to wrap around the cigarette pack, making it easier to note time and reason for smoking
  • Gum, Mint, etc. to help the oral aspect of smoking

Also, pick up a stress ball when you visit because they can help relieve the momentary stress that leads you to smoke.

Local Resources

Resource

  

Phone

Tobacco Free For Good

No cost - six sessions, 6 p.m. - 8 p.m.

Multiple sites throughout Kent County

(616) 975-0123

Stop Smoking Classes

(7) one hour sessions for $45.00

Holland Community Hospital

(616) 394-3344

Nicotine Anonymous Support Group

Saturday at 11 a.m., ongoing

Spectrum Health, Kent Community Campus

(616) 235-1427

United Lifestyles

Support group sessions (8) one hour group sessions for $30.00

United Hospital, Greenville

(800) 406-4551

Helpline Resources

Resource

Helpline

Michigan Tobacco Quit-line

(800) 480-7848

Priority Health Healthy Encounters Quit-line

(616) 942-1221

800) 446-5674

Quit For Life® Program Help Line

1-800-QUIT Now (1-800-784-0669)

The American Lung Association Help Line

1- 800-LUNG-USA (1-800-586-4872)

Other Resources:

My Life, My Quit

Freedom From Smoking

Smoke Free Resource 

American Lung Association


Page last modified April 15, 2022
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