Over the past few years, e-cigarettes have become increasingly popular with teens, who see them as fashionable accessories and a clean, “safe” way to indulge in a grown-up habit. But are e-cigarettes really harmless?
“E-cigarettes are not a safe alternative to smoking, nor are they risk-free,” says Sarah Garwood, MD, pediatric and adolescent medicine physician at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. “Teens who use e-cigarettes are vulnerable to becoming dependent on nicotine-containing products, including conventional cigarettes.”
Before talking with your child about the potential harms of e-cigarettes, arm yourself with a few facts.
When your child says:
“I’m not smoking—e-cigarettes make water vapor.”
You can say:
- E-cigarettes deliver nicotine in every puff.
- One e-cigarette may have as much nicotine as an entire
pack of conventional cigarettes.
When your child says:
“Nicotine does not cause lung cancer—smoke does.”
You can say:
- Nicotine is a highly addictive drug.
- Nicotine is poisonous. The number of liquid-nicotine-related calls to poison control centers has jumped dramatically in recent years, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
When your child says:
“I’m using nicotine-free cartridges.”
You can say:
- The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) found nicotine in “nicotine-free” cartridges.
- The FDA found toxic chemicals (diethylene glycol and genotoxins) and carcinogens in e-cigarettes it has tested.
