American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) Sounds Alarm Over Teen Vaping Risks
The use of electronic cigarettes poses significant health hazards to adolescents, primarily from exposure to harmful ingredients including nicotine, marijuana, formaldehyde, and numerous other toxic chemicals, as well as heavy metals and inhaled flavorings. There is robust evidence to demonstrate that the use of e-cigarettes causes injury to the cardiovascular and respiratory systems, and to the reward system of the brain. There is also significant research to document that adolescents who use e-cigarettes face an elevated risk of developing an addiction to traditional cigarettes. The most serious complication from e-cigarette use, however, is e-cigarette vaping-associated lung injury (EVALI) which can be fatal.
Given this scientific data, the ACPeds urges all health professionals, educators and policy makers to warn parents and adolescents of the health risks due to vaping. ACPeds commends policy makers for raising the legal age to purchase vaping products to 21 and encourages them to consider bans on all flavored vaping products that appeal to the underage population, which continues to access them illegally.
Dr. Jane Anderson, a general pediatrician and board member of the ACPeds states, "Adolescence is a time of risk-taking and, unfortunately, many adolescents are experimenting with vaping, believing it is a safe way to have fun and ‘de-stress’. However, vaping e-cigarettes carries significant health risks and can be fatal.” These dangerous consequences are detailed in the ACPeds position statement released today, Vaping – Impact on Adolescent Health.
You can read the full statement here:
https://acpeds.org/position-statements/vaping-impact-on-adolescent-health
About the American College of Pediatricians
The American College of Pediatricians (ACPeds) is a national medical association of licensed physicians and healthcare professionals who specialize in the care of infants, children, and adolescents. It was founded by a group of concerned physicians who saw the need for a pediatric organization that would not be influenced by the politically driven pronouncements of the day. The mission of the ACPeds is to enable all children to reach their optimal physical and emotional health and well-being. The ACPeds is committed to fulfilling its mission by producing sound policy, based upon the best available research, to assist parents and to influence society in the endeavor of childrearing.