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Background:

Last year, doctor Jerome Adams issued a warning that vaping amongst youth has led to epidemic levels.
More than 3.6 million middle and high school students use e-cigarettes.
E-cigarettes contain fewer chemicals than cigarettes so the industry has presented them as a healthier alternative, which might not be the case.
Federal and state officials have reported hundreds of possible cases of heart disease and death that may be related to vaping.
Nearly 1 of every 20 middle school students (4.9%) reported in 2018 that they used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days—an increase from 0.6% in 2011.
Nearly 1 of every 5 high school students (20.8%) reported in 2018 that they used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days—an increase from 1.5% in 2011

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Why we selected this topic:

Vaping is something that is all around us, and we will be the first generation affected by the long term results. It is Interesting to see something that is so common for our generation, and how powerful nicotine is and the power it has over our generation.

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What is Nicotine?

Nicotine is a stimulant and sedative that contains nitrogen
Potent parasympathomimetic-- stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system (rest and digest)
Nicotine is highly addictive-- as difficult to give up as heroin
Nicotine speeds up the messages travelling between the brain and body

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Effects of Nicotine

Nicotine has a range of effects on the body
Nicotine stimulates the adrenal glands which results in the release of adrenaline-- the surge of adrenaline increases the heart rate, breathing activity, and blood pressure
Nicotine also releases dopamine which makes the user experience a pleasurable sensation-- a similar effect to heroin or cocaine

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Effects of Nicotine on the Body

Circulation of the blood can be affected and can lead to harmful blood clots
Possible blood restriction in the brain
The GI system can be affected by peptic ulcers, heartburn, and indigestion
The heart can experience changes in heart rate, an increase in blood pressure, constrictions and diseases of the coronary artery and an increased risk of stroke

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Nicotine Addiction

Nicotine is HIGHLY ADDICTIVE
There are a variety of withdrawal symptoms including depression, cravings, anxiety, and more

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The History of Vaping:

The first modern vape was created by a chinese pharmacist, Hon Lik, who was tired of using nicotine patches to help him quit smoking

He thought emulating the act of smoking without the harmful carcinogens would make it easier to stop smoking actual cigarettes
In 2003 his idea was patented and e cigarettes were being sold on the market in China

2010s the vape was introduced to America
The vape device heats a volatile liquid in a cartridge which the user then inhales, it simply turns the liquid to vapor
Early on, the vape was marketed as a smoking-cessation aid, to get off of the more dangerous cigarettes and eventually off of nicotine altogether

An estimated 2000 adult smokers quit smoking by using vapes in 2015

Recently vaping has overtaken cigarette use in teenagers

More than 2 million teenagers admitted to vaping in the last 30 days

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Is it really better than smoking cigarettes?

Liquid nicotine over the years has been shown to be a safer alternative than smoking cigarettes (Medical News Today)
The way e-cigarettes work is the battery operated device turns the flavored liquid nicotine, applies heat, making it the substance turn into vapor
Nicotine is as addictive as Heroin
However this safer alternative to smoking cigarettes is being abused my high-school aged students

Between the years of 2017 and 2018 the amount of high school students that use e-cigarettes rose from 11.7% to 20.8% and middle school students that use e-cigarettes rose from 3.3% to 4.9% (Medical News Today)

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Professionals opinions on vaping

Michael S. Dunbar- health psychologist and behavioral scientist
Elizabeth J. D’Amico- clinical psychologist and senior behavioral scientist

Wrote an article together
Most adolescents do not use e-cigarettes to limit their smoking
Those who increase their e-cigarette use increase their cigarette smoking
At least 3 million high schoolers use e-cigarettes
Teenagers are more likely to become addicted
Promoted through social media
Flavors play a significant role in vaping
Since 2011, teen smoking has dropped 50% but teen vaping has increased 600%
20% US adults use tobacco products, only 3% use e-cigarettes

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Professionals opinions on vaping

Melodi Pirzada- chief pediatric pulmonologist

Treating 215 patients with the mysterious vaping illness
Symptoms include shortness of breath, vomiting, fever, and fatigue
Patients deny the use of vapes or just do not know what they inhaled

Dr. Scott Gottlieb- former commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration

Suspects the mystery illness to be related to THC

E-cigarette manufacturers have not changed their ingredients
Something new in the illegal drug business

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Impact is has on Nursing and the Profession

Emphasized to spread awareness to first time users of nicotine by using a e-cigarette
The risk of the unknown

Vaping hasn’t been around long enough to see the long term effects and how to treat it

“Vaping Popcorn Lung” (Bronchiolitis Obliterans)

Exposure to too many chemicals which causes the bronchioles to become inflamed which is where deoxygenated blood receives oxygen

Symptoms: shortness of breath, wheezing, dry cough, and exhaustion

MPH Online

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Works Cited:

Raven, K. (2019, September 7). Teen Vaping Linked to More Health Risks. Retrieved from https://www.yalemedicine.org/stories/teen-vaping/.

Youth and Tobacco Use | CDC. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm.

Felman, Adam. (2018, January 11). Everything you need to know about Nicotine. Retrieved from https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/240820.php.

Macarthur, Sam. (2019). Vaping: The Good, The Bad and the Popcorn Lung. Retrieved from https://www.mphonline.org/vaping-public-health/

Dunbar, M., D’Amico, E. (2018). Why the vaping issue is just so complicated. Retrieved from https://www.cnn.com/2018/12/17/opinions/vaping-juul-teenagers-and-adults-dunbar-damico/index.html

Kaplan, S., Richtel, M. (2019). The mysterious vaping illness that’s becoming an epidemic. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/2019/08/31/health/vaping-marijuana-ecigarettes-sickness.html