Tobacco Use is Soaring Among US Kids, Driven By E-cigarettes (axios.com)

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Tobacco Use is Soaring Among US Kids, Driven By E-cigarettes (axios.com)

Posted by msmash on Monday February 11, 2019 @07:40AM from the growing-concerns dept.

Public health officials Monday said there's a growing epidemic of tobacco products currently used by children -- 4.9 million high school and middle school kids used tobacco products in 2018 up from 3.6 million in 2017 -- mainly due to a growth in e-cigarette usage. From a report: For the fifth year in a row, e-cigs were the most popular product amongst high school students, but in 2018 it reached unprecedented epidemic levels, with the addition of another 1.5 million kids, said Anne Schuchat, principal deputy director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. "Current users" are defined as people who've used a tobacco product in past 30 days. "Frequent users" are defined as people who've used the product for more than 20 out of the past 30 days.

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e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Anonymous Coward · 2019-02-11 07:52 · Score: 5, Informative

I personally doubt they are any better for you, but vape juice is definately not tobacco.
1. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by pegr · 2019-02-11 07:57 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  Absolutely better for you. Nicotine is no worse for you than caffeine. It's the other nasties in tobacco that are bad for you.
  https://www.forbes.com/sites/s...
2. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by ShanghaiBill · 2019-02-11 07:59 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  I personally doubt they are any better for you
  They are certainly better that tobacco. Nicotine is bad, but the other stuff in tobacco smoke is worse, and you avoid that with vaping.
  The problem is that kids are stupid and naive, and they don't realize that vaping is just as addictive as tobacco. By the time they realize how stupid it is, they are hooked.
  We need to find a way to keep vaping devices away from pre-18ers. Maybe move to a prescription model. But that might mean less harm reduction for smokers. It is a difficult issue.
3. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by wiggles · 2019-02-11 08:09 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  That's not true. Nicotine is directly associated with increased stroke and heart attacks. It attacks the venous system.
  https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com...
4. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by tk77 · 2019-02-11 08:11 · Score: 2
  
  Absolutely better for you....
  Perhaps a better way to put it would be "not as terrible for you".
  http://www.center4research.org...
5. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by slashkitty · 2019-02-11 08:15 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  As does caffeine!
  
  --
  -- these are only opinions and they might not be mine.
6. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by danlip · 2019-02-11 08:18 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  However, nicotine is much more addictive than caffeine. It would be a mistake to equate them. And there are a variety of other chemicals in the vapes, which may or may not be harmful. And nicotine itself may contribute to cancer too.
7. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by wiggles · 2019-02-11 08:19 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  No. Caffeine in the form of 4 cups or more of coffee per day actually has a preventative effect according to this meta-analysis:
  https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/p...
8. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Oswald+McWeany · 2019-02-11 08:27 · Score: 3, Informative
  
  As does caffeine!
  Quite the opposite. Caffeine (and more broadly, the coffee that many people consume it in), has all sorts of wide ranging health benefits. There have been hundreds of studies by people trying to prove how unhealthy coffee (and caffeine) is, and all the studies ending up proving the exact opposite; that it actually reduces all sorts of illnesses.
  
  --
  "That's the way to do it" - Punch
9. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by sjames · 2019-02-11 08:33 · Score: 5, Informative
  
  From your link:
  
  Conclusions: The use of NRT is not associated with any increase in the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death.
  So no, nicotine minus the tar, particulates, and carbon monoxide is NOT associated with an increased of cardiovascular risk.
  Looks like you read what you (for some reason) wanted to read rather than what was written.
10. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by sjames · 2019-02-11 08:42 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  It actually isn't as addictive as tobacco. Cigarette smoke contains MAO inhibitors that potentiate the addictive properties of nicotine. Vape juice doesn't have those.
  Some vape juice doesn't even have nicotine.
11. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by fuzznutz · 2019-02-11 08:43 · Score: 2
  
  The health affects of caffeine aren't fully known, but Nicotine does reduce your body's defenses against cancer.
  You're right that vaping is definitely less unhealthy than cigarettes though.
  Until it blows up in your face and kills you.
  
  https://www.huffingtonpost.com...
12. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by cayenne8 · 2019-02-11 08:45 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  So no, nicotine minus the tar, particulates, and carbon monoxide is NOT associated with an increased of cardiovascular risk.
  BUT...you don't get the enjoyment of lighting one up on the vape thing.
  What was half the fun of smoking real cigarettes....carrying lighters, firing it up, etc....
  I guess the vape things are ok for quitting smoking....but really, once you get off the nicotine, they aren't nearly so much fun as real smoking that uses real fire, and other things like flicking ashes, etc...it kept your non-drinking hand busy.
  
  --
  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
13. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Ol+Olsoc · 2019-02-11 09:01 · Score: 4, Informative
  
  As does caffeine!
  Quite the opposite. Caffeine (and more broadly, the coffee that many people consume it in), has all sorts of wide ranging health benefits. There have been hundreds of studies by people trying to prove how unhealthy coffee (and caffeine) is, and all the studies ending up proving the exact opposite; that it actually reduces all sorts of illnesses.
  In moderation though - I have a friend who damn near died from palpitations brought on by coffee consumption.
  As well, the puritans who are shitting their pants because the tobacco users have found a loophole in vaping need vaping to be made as socially unacceptable as tobacco products.
  As a coffee addict, I can tell you that they are hoping to latch onto it as the next thing to be eradicated.
  
  --
  The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
14. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Ol+Olsoc · 2019-02-11 09:02 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  From your link:
  
  Conclusions: The use of NRT is not associated with any increase in the risk of myocardial infarction, stroke, or death.
  So no, nicotine minus the tar, particulates, and carbon monoxide is NOT associated with an increased of cardiovascular risk.
  Looks like you read what you (for some reason) wanted to read rather than what was written.
  It is the modern purist's version of reefer madness. The puritans don't need actual facts.
  
  --
  The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
15. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by sjames · 2019-02-11 09:06 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  Well, it is believed that the ritual of smoking is a significant contributor to the addiction.
16. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by ShanghaiBill · 2019-02-11 09:19 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  In moderation though
  Nearly all caffeine users have little difficulty keeping their use in the "good" range. But for nicotine, there is no "good" range, and it is far more addictive.
  
  As well, the puritans who are shitting their pants because the tobacco users have found a loophole in vaping
  Nonsense. We are only shitting our pants over kids getting ahold of vaping devices. Adults can do what they want.
  Do you really think that putting a highly addictive and harmful product into the hands of kids is acceptable? They are too stupid and naive to understand the consequences.
17. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Ol+Olsoc · 2019-02-11 09:21 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  We need to find a way to keep vaping devices away from pre-18ers.
  Unilateral permanent confiscation of the vaping device when they are caught, a criminal record that stays on file for the next 7 years even though they are a minor, and the threat of losing access to public education if they are caught again might do the trick, at the very least, it will put the parent(s) or guardians in the loop who might be better equipped to deal with whatever further disciplinary actions are required.
  Holy fuck, you left out summary and immediate execution.
  I suspect you are Poeing, but if not, I think it was W.F. Buckley, ont of my two favorite conservatives, who suffered fro glaucoma and went offshore to treat it with devil's lettuce that said:
  " Marijuana laws have unquestionably destroyed more lives than marijuana ever did." reminds me of your suggestion.
  
  --
  The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
18. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by ShanghaiBill · 2019-02-11 09:25 · Score: 2, Interesting
  
  A longitudinal study by the NIH found that vaping is a gateway to smoking, and it is likely that access to vapers increases tobacco use among adolescents.
19. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Tawnos · 2019-02-11 09:37 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  > for nicotine, there is no "good" range, and it is far more addictive.
  Are you sure about that? From what I've read, there's a potentiating effect of the nicotine caused by MAOIs in tobacco. Further, I have a very hard time finding studies about the health effects of nicotine that isn't from tobacco (smoked, chewed, or otherwise ingested). The health effects of nicotine sans tobacco seem akin to those of caffeine.
20. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by cayenne8 · 2019-02-11 09:55 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Well, it is believed that the ritual of smoking is a significant contributor to the addiction.
  Oh, absolutely the ritual.
  While I'm glad I quit smoking....it really WAS nice to smoke in bars while drinking. You can still in most places down here....and it is tempting.
  There's also the social aspect of it....maybe diminishing,
  BUT...I found at work as they made you smoke outside, I often was talking with co-workers I don't sit near and getting scuttlebutt, I also found myself talking with people MUCH higher up on the totem pole than I, and while I had their ear, I'd give my views on things as well as getting inside info on how things were going. Often I got selected for things due to familiarity driving I believe in part, by them knowing who I was out in the "smoke hole" with them.
  
  --
  Light travels faster than sound. This is why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.........
21. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by sjames · 2019-02-11 10:10 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  The social aspect at work is very definitely there. Indoors, you couldn't even get 10 seconds with the boss's boss. In the smoking area you could shoot the breeze w/ the CEO.
  When I did system installs, I found that a trip to the designated smoking area was sometimes a great way to break through a management log jam.
22. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Impy+the+Impiuos+Imp · 2019-02-11 10:31 · Score: 2
  
  Kid: So...if I vape they will kick me out of school permanently?
  Good plan
  
  --
  (-1: Post disagrees with my already-settled worldview) is not a valid mod option.
23. Re: e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by sjames · 2019-02-11 10:34 · Score: 2
  
  What antifreeze?
24. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Anonymous Coward · 2019-02-11 11:10 · Score: 2
  
  Correct. Nicotine is not very addictive unless it's processed and mixed with additives to maximize delivery and the addictive properties of nicotine, as is done with cigarettes or the nicotine used in most studies into it's 'addictiveness'. Many people who take up vaping find it far easier than they've been led to expect to move to zero nicotine liquids once they eliminate cigarette use as they never experience the symptoms often attributed to nicotine withdrawal; as they're not addicted to the nicotine, but the oral fixation created by years of smoking cigarettes. Vaping satisfies the hand to mouth and oral fixations thus, little to no withdrawal when they go off it.
  Vape liquids themselves are (generally) made from polypropylene glycol, glycerin and flavoring. With a few exceptions with certain flavors (Most of which were reformulated by flavor manufacturers without harmful compounds like diacetyl years ago) every component of e-liquids are GRAS (An FDA designation which stands for Generally Recognized as Safe) compounds that have been extensively tested to be safe, even when vaporized and inhaled in large quantities. For example, PG and Glycerin are found in things like asthma inhalers and most of the compounds in the flavorings are literally found in everything you eat, drink or inhale be it natural or not.
  No matter how much it looks like it, vaping isn't smoking and the effort to shoehorn vaping into the same category as tobacco use is akin to the reefer madness that caused us to persecute pot smokers for the last 80 years. Vaping has nothing to do with tobacco use and lumping them together is pure stupidity.
25. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by hairyfeet · 2019-02-11 12:23 · Score: 3, Interesting
  
  Considering that thanks to our busted AF border pretty much any kid in the USA can get crack, meth, and heroin less than 20 minutes from their house? Yeah really not so worried about one puffing on an ecig, nope.
  BTW if the local teens are any indication (have a grandson that vapes, call 'em "smoky" as you can find him and his buds by the fog bank) the vast majority of 'em? Yeah using no nic, in fact talking to my local vape shop their #1 sellers by a huge margin is no nic, which I assume is relatives getting it for teens as most of the adults I know are on 3mg or 6mg nic.
  
  --
  ACs don't waste your time replying, your posts are never seen by me.
26. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Ol+Olsoc · 2019-02-11 14:01 · Score: 2
  
  In moderation though
  
  Nearly all caffeine users have little difficulty keeping their use in the "good" range. But for nicotine, there is no "good" range, and it is far more addictive.
  https://www.webmd.com/mental-h...
  Perhaps I work in the wrong crowds. Nearly everyone I have ever worked with has been told to cut back on their caffiene use, and most have suffered withdrawal symptoms. Several, including me, have hit the 10 cups per day mark that is considered too damn much.
  
  As well, the puritans who are shitting their pants because the tobacco users have found a loophole in vaping
  
  Nonsense. We are only shitting our pants over kids getting ahold of vaping devices. Adults can do what they want.
  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...
  Perhaps we might keep the children out of the bars, if we only care about them, and have no intention of impeding adult use. I mean - bar bans if we are interested in keeping vaping devices out of the hands of kids, thry must be hanging out in bars.
  
  Do you really think that putting a highly addictive and harmful product into the hands of kids is acceptable? They are too stupid and naive to understand the consequences.
  I think that there are some fairly simple ways to attempt to keep them out of the hands of those who have not achieved the age of majority. But if I might cite my own and my friend's experience. I and most of my friends started smoking when we were in 7th grade, which for me was 13. Why? Forbidden fruit. Smoking was something "adults" did. So we were playing adults. We had no trouble getting cigarettes or tobacco. Teenagers are indeed capable of taking stupid risks, but they can also be very very capable. Some of us were pretty good at shoplifting tobacco, who didn't have parents that smoked.
  Today? Tobacco is harder to get, but I assume I would be as precocious now if I was in junior high. I'd simply make my vapor device. Probably something like this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... Mine would be a lot better, but its simple, and my homebrew version would make me look even more adult to my silly friends.
  
  --
  The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
27. Re:e-cigarrettes arent tobacco by Alypius · 2019-02-11 17:53 · Score: 2
  
  That along with "If it saves even one life, it's worth it" garbage.
Does that really count? by thereddaikon · 2019-02-11 07:52 · Score: 5, Insightful

Yeah kids shouldn't be using vapes but should it be considered a tobacco product when it doesn't have tobacco in it? The biggest issues I see with them are that they often contain nicotine which is addictive, and the Fed's refusal to regulate them properly means they could have god knows what in the vape juice. Instead of having the pearl clutching knee jerk of they are evil maybe the FDA should actually regulate the things properly so we can ensure that they don't have unsafe chemicals in them.
1. Re:Does that really count? by garcia · 2019-02-11 08:00 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  No, it shouldn't count; however, they still lump these products together.
  That said, there is some evidence e-cigs help others to quit actual tobacco use, even though the FDA has not yet .
  Kids are going to experiment with shit, regardless of controls and limits; we should probably be glad they're experimenting with this delivery method as opposed to what every prior generation has for the last 100+ years.
2. Re:Does that really count? by Anonymous Coward · 2019-02-11 08:15 · Score: 5, Insightful
  
  So what, adults should only be able to choose from flavors such as Buttered Ass and Steamed Kale? Things that are "appealing to kids" are also appealing to adults. How about we stop trying to ban everything 'for the children', because it's making the world pretty lame for the rest of us.
3. Re:Does that really count? by Oswald+McWeany · 2019-02-11 08:29 · Score: 2
  
  On the bright side smoking is a form of population control, and then maybe we wont see all these annoying climate change(tm) articles on slashdot anymore.
  Not a very effective one. It doesn't kill off people before they reproduce and it only lowers their life expectancy by 10%. As a population control it is weak.
  
  --
  "That's the way to do it" - Punch
4. Re:Does that really count? by Hognoxious · 2019-02-11 08:53 · Score: 3, Insightful
  
  It also damages their fitness for a long time before it kills them, which reduces output from the mines.
  
  --
  Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
5. Re: Does that really count? by Type44Q · 2019-02-11 10:04 · Score: 4, Funny
  
  Buttered Ass and Steamed Kale
  Together or separate?
Are those numbers really that bad? by cordovaCon83 · 2019-02-11 08:11 · Score: 4, Interesting

If I'm Reading this right, about 15% of American adults smoke these days, compared to about 42% of adults in 1942. Granted, this story is about teenagers that will soon be adults, and a million more than expected is not a number to be scoffed at, but really when we start getting numbers down that low, I don't know how much more outrage is necessary. The number is never going to be zero percent, no matter what the Puritans wish.
1. Re:Are those numbers really that bad? by Oswald+McWeany · 2019-02-11 08:49 · Score: 2
  
  White collar workers will smoke on the weekends at parties, but might never smoke during the week or at the office. Your personal experiences may not reflect all of society.
  Well, my experiences don't reflect society if it's at 15%.
  However, I suspect we've seen a shift, not just in % that smoke, but HOW people smoke. The city I live in, 15 years ago there would be butts on the ground outside on every corner where smokers would drop cigarettes out their windows... a lot of burnt grass in intersection medians where they would simmer and char the grass. You don't see that very often now.
  It appears that people that DO smoke are more conscientious about how they smoke now (or just are more brow-beaten by non smokers); there is a lot less smoking in public, or even on the roads. I suspect a higher % of smoking now happens in the homes and gardens of the smokers rather than on the streets.
  
  --
  "That's the way to do it" - Punch
Almost as if this is targetted to addiction by WillAffleckUW · 2019-02-11 08:15 · Score: 4, Informative

Almost all nicotine addiction occurs in middle school (not, as many believe incorrectly, in high school and college), and there are people working for the tobacco addiction industry who know this and are doing what they can to addict the next generations of addicts.
And, don't lie to yourselves, you're addicts.
Me, I do socially acceptable addictions that are common in Seattle instead.
Bubble tea ftw!

--
-- Tigger warning: This post may contain tiggers! --
1. Re:Almost as if this is targetted to addiction by PolygamousRanchKid+ · 2019-02-11 08:58 · Score: 3, Funny
  
  Me, I do socially acceptable addictions that are common in Seattle instead.
  Bubble tea ftw!
  So that is what hipsters call masturbation these days.
  
  --
  Schroedinger's Brexit: The UK is both in and out of the EU at the same time!
2. Re:Almost as if this is targetted to addiction by DogDude · 2019-02-11 09:36 · Score: 2
  
  Me, I do socially acceptable addictions that are common in Seattle instead.
  
  What's that? Smart phone addiction?
  
  --
  I don't respond to AC's.
Not tobacco by Anonymous Coward · 2019-02-11 08:21 · Score: 2, Informative

I am not sure if anyone noticed but an e-cigarette contains no actual tobacco. As a cigar smoker I am sick of it getting lumped in.
Are they actually bending the truth like this? by LostMyAccount · 2019-02-11 08:42 · Score: 3, Insightful

As far as I can tell, the people with a vested interest in opposing cigarettes are also vehemently opposed to e-cigarettes, despite their much lower risk profile.
Time and again I find myself reading "news" stories where e-cigarettes are lumped with tobacco use, and many anti-tobacco activists swear up and down that if you vape candy-flavored vape juice FOR SURE you will switch to Marlboro Reds at the first opportunity.
I just don't see how this could be the case -- I smoked for a decade and *liked it*. In the years since I quit I have tried a few cigarettes out of nostalgia and been absolutely repulsed by them. When I smoked I rolled my own, and occasionally a "light" cigarette smoker would want to try one out of curiosity or because they were out, and almost universally they hated them. If an actual cigarette smoker is turned off by a slightly harsher actual cigarette, then the idea anyone who has only or mostly vaped switching to tobacco seems absurd.