Nicotine Free Teens

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Work Cited:

You can go to these websites to find out more about electronic cigarettes:

http://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2015/p0416-e-cigarette-use.html

www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2014/images/p0403-e-cigarette-poison.pdf

http://www.fda.gov/newsevents/publichealthfocus/ucm172906.htm

http://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugfacts/electronic-cigarettes-e-cigarettes

http://www.narconon.org/blog/uncategorized/e-cigarette-possible-gateway-to-drug-abuse/

http://www.lung.org/press-room/press-releases/Monitoring-the-future-e-cigarette-use-among-teens.html

http://www.lung.org/press-room/press-releases/tobacco-control/e-cigarette-use-triples-in-nonsmokinr-youth.html

http://www.webmd.com/smoking-cessation/news/20150218/e-cigarette-ingredients

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3 Main Parts of an E-cigarette

A rechargeable battery

An atomizer, which is the vaporization chamber

A cartridge of liquid nicotine, which is sold in different nicotine strengths and flavors

Typical liquid nicotine cartridge=1 or 1 and a half packs of traditional cigarettes

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Drug users use a liquid form of THC, the ingredient in marijuana, to replace e-cigarette liquid nicotine cartridges. This type of smoking does not generate any smell, so a person can get high without arising any suspicion. Teens can easily smoke pot without giving off the recognizable marijuana smell and can smoke freely in public without anybody noticing the liquid is a drug. 

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Research has shown that teens who use e-cigarettes are more likely to start using traditional cigarettes or other tobacco products. 

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The History of E- cigarettes

E- cigarettes were first introduced in China in 2004. The United States adopted e- cigarettes in 2007. Within only eight years, teen use of e- cigarettes has tripled while smoking rates have gone down. Tobacco companies have also bought some of the most popular and successful e-cigarette companies within these years. 

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How Smoking Becomes an Addiction

Smoking regularly

Body becomes accustomed to the drug and more and more is needed to create the desired effect (Tolerance)

When a smoker tries to quit, the mind and body perceive that it needs that the drug in order to function and demand it through physical and mental cravings , which cause pain and emotional stress (Withdrawal) 

To avoid the pain of withdrawal, the user goes back to using drugs

The need for the drug will become so strong that the user will do anything to get more if the drug to satisfy their cravings

The addict is now trapped in a downward spiral of addiction, creating more physical, emotional, and social problems as a result of drug use

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What is a Drug?

While many people have heard of drugs, not many of us actually know what a drug is. A drug is basically a substance, other than food, which, when entered into the body, alters the person physically or psychologically. Drugs are basically toxins and the amount taken determines the affect to the  body. Any drug in large doses can kill. Nicotine is a drug. 

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Is Nicotine a Drug?

Nicotine is a highly addictive drug found in traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes. This drug is referred to as a gateway drug that can lead people to use more harmful drugs with longer lasting side effects. The ingredient, nicotine, makes it hard for most smokers to stop smoking once they have already started.The overuse of this drug will cause your body to become tolerant to nicotine, which will have you coming back for more nicotine. Nicotine works by quickly entering the blood stream and going to the brain. The brain then releases adrenaline, producing a buzz of pleasure and energy. The buzz quickly fades and makes you want more. This evidence indicates that nicotine is a drug. 

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Liquid nicotine has caused many poisoning incidents, especially among children. Liquid nicotine is highly concentrated meaning that just small exposures could cause severe side effects and ingestion could cause death. Liquid nicotine can also have unknown carcinogens that may cause cancer. The color packaging of liquid nicotine causes some children to mistake the poison for candy. There have been few child deaths due to nicotine and many cases of poisoning. 

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Looks Like a Cigarette, Tastes Like a Cigarette, But Why Isn’t it a Cigarette?

E- cigarettes are mostly differentiated from regular cigarettes because:

They are electronic 

They don’t have tobacco

They have a wider variety of flavors

You can smoke an e- cigarette in most non-smoking zones

They have liquid nicotine (really dangerous)

They are not regulated by the FDA

E- cigarette companies can advertise on TV

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E- cigarettes aren’t Regulated?!?!

So many people view e- cigarettes as a healthy alternative. However, not many people realize that this is determined by tobacco companies not the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The FDA has not regulated e- cigarettes and has not even processed them. This means that tobacco companies have the right to say whatever they want about e-cigarettes and the information doesn't have to be true. This also means the ingredients in e- cigarettes have not been processed and e- cigarettes have untested/ unknown side effects. The recent trend of e- cigarettes has motivated the FDA to possibly move forward and process electronic nicotine products. 

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Nicotine not only affect your body, but also affects your brain. Nicotine activates parts of your brain that are responsible for inducing pleasure and reward. This causes an increased rise in dopamine, which is sometimes called the pleasure molecule. The same effects can be found in drugs such as cocaine and heroine. This action is what makes people addicted to e- cigarettes, traditional cigarettes, and drugs.

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E- cigarettes contain harsh chemicals that can cause poisoning. If a small child were to swallow just a teaspoon of liquid nicotine, it would be enough to kill them. If a person’s skin is exposed to the liquid nicotine they experience common side effects associated with poisoning. The rising popularity of e-cigarettes, contributes to the rising number of poisonings due to e-cigarettes.