Introduction
Vaping is an alarming issue that has taken over youth and adolescents across the United States.
Studies have found that “2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students reported current
(past 30-day) e-cigarette use in 2022, which includes 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of
middle school students” (CDC, 2022). Vaping is the practice of inhaling and exhaling a vapor
that contains nicotine, with flavor most of the time, through a battery-operated electronic device
that mimics that of a cigarette (NIH, 2022). Although it is said that vaping is posed as something
healthier or safer compared to smoking cigarettes or cigars, the habit of vaping poses various
health problems, from depression to even lung cancer.
The Harm
The supposed use of e-cigarettes and vapes were to originally help smokers quit smoking by
serving as a transition and pivotal point to abstinence. It was due to the fact that it is not as
severe and damaging to the body as smoking cigarettes. Although this is true, it is very crucial to
acknowledge and understand that vaping still involves nicotine. The main component of both
traditional cigarettes and e-cigarettes is nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Ignoring the need
results in withdrawal symptoms and a craving for a cigarette. According to M.D Michael Joseph
Blaha from Johns Hopkins medicine, “Nicotine is a toxic substance. It raises your blood pressure
and spikes your adrenaline, which increases your heart rate and the likelihood of having a heart
attack” (Blaha, 2022). On top of this danger, further studies show that nicotine is a highly
addictive chemical. Research suggests that it may be as addictive as heroin and cocaine (Blaha,
2022). To further this point, users can purchase extra-strength cartridges, which have a larger
concentration of nicotine, or boost the e-voltage cigarettes to get a bigger hit of the drug. E-
cigarette users get even more nicotine than they would from a combustible tobacco product.
Other than nicotine, vapes contain toxic and possibly hazardous substances, including ultrafine
particles which can be breathed deep into the lungs. This also contains flavorings?such as
diacetyl, a chemical associated to significant respiratory disease and volatile organic compounds
heavy metals, such as nickel, tin, and lead (Blaha, 2022).
Targeted Prevalence
Even though vaping affects all age groups, one thing to point out is that the victims of vaping
mainly affect the adolescent age group. The use of e-cigarettes has significantly expanded in
recent years among both teenagers and young adults. A quarter of youth and young adults in the
United States have ever tried an e-cigarette (Know the Risks: E-Cigarettes & Young People
2022). With such a high general population of young adults and youth, one quarter of people is
actually a large amount. And according to “Know the Risks: E-Cigarettes & Young People” in
2018 1 in 5 high school students stated using vapes within the past month (Know the Risks: E-
Cigarettes & Young People, 2022).
Cultural Impact
One of the reasons as to why vaping largely affects youth and adolescence stems from the overall
aesthetic of vapes and the action of vaping. We live in a social media-based generation that
values aesthetics, trends, and pleasure: vaping is one of the things that fulfills these things that
the present generation values. Adolescents are drawn to e-cigarette marketing, which includes
product design and packaging. Studies mention that a lot of e-cigarettes have fruit, candy,
alcohol, or other flavors in bright colors that young people find appealing and interesting (Know
the Risks: E-Cigarettes & Young People, 2022). The tobacco industry targeted youth and young
adults in its advertising and promotion of conventional cigarettes, and many of the themes and
techniques used in e-cigarette marketing, such as sexual content and customer satisfaction, are
analogous. With that being said, other factors that contribute to the appeal of vaping is the use by
a family member or friend (Know the Risks: E-Cigarettes & Young People, 2022). Because they
are constantly surrounded by those who vape, it becomes something normalized, or routine. The
risk factors or “sudden shock” of seeing someone using a vape goes away after being around it
so often. Another factor would also include the taste and wide range of flavors that vapes have to
offer, which feeds into the next factor: the factor of pure curiosity. Because of enticing
advertisement, accessibility, style and taste of vapes, it is very easy for young people to have the
desire to try out vaping, which evidently leads to a constant habit leading to addiction (Know the
Risks: E-Cigarettes & Young People, 2022).
Health Behavior Theory/Model
For the issue of vaping, I believe that the Health Belief Model best aligns with the assessment
data to aid as the framework for an intervention design. Programs for illness prevention and
health promotion can be based on the theoretical paradigm known as the Health Belief Model.
Dr. Lisa Washburn from University of Tennessee defines the Health Belief Model. She states,
“The Health Belief Model states that people’s beliefs influence their health-related actions or
behaviors” (Washburn, 2022). As discussed in class, the HBM is comprised of six concepts:
perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits, perceived barriers, cues to
action, and self-efficacy. Theses concepts can then be boiled down to a few processes which is
the threat assessment and cost/benefit analysis. The threat assessment addresses the aspects of
perceived susceptibility and perceived severity: it is a calculation related to the disease or health
problem. This idea factors in the questions of what is the degree that a person feels at risk for a
health problem as well as what is the degree to which a person believes the consequences of the
health problem will be severe. For this case, it would be vaping. Educating the adolescent about
the dangers of vaping by posing both mental and physical consequences addresses the first two
dimensions of the HBM. By having school, campaigns, resources, and guest speakers come in
who educate people about the risk factors of vaping will help those make a more clear, logical
judgement about how they would be at risk if they were to continue to engage in vaping. Not
only that, but having these things implemented in schools and colleges will then address the
aspect of perceived benefits of the HBM. Vaping is known to cause heightened depression and
anxiety, so being educated on the fact that although vaping brings about a momentary ‘buzz’, it
is not worth the long term effects of increased depression and anxiety. Thus, for individuals
predisposed to, or already have severe depression, anxiety, or even asthma would then realize
that by stopping the use of vaping, these health issues will not worsen, but would rather decrease.
Cues to action for adolescents may be a number of things. Support and approval from family and
friends can fall under this aspect, as well as watching others who have reaped the consequences
of going down that line of continual use of vaping. Witnessing and hearing the stories of lung
cancer patients, or those with adverse health problems, both physical and mental can be cues to
action for the youth. Lastly, for self-efficacy, I believe that things like counseling are critical to
the development of an individual’s self-efficacy. Having the right support systems like a
counselor, supportive family members, and addiction prevention groups are effective elements
that build into an individual’s self-efficacy. Reassuring a youths capabilities and value that they
carry, to stop vaping is effective in the process of abstaining from smoking e-cigarettes.
Programs To Help
One prime example of prevention programs that help youths quit vaping is the Truth Initiative
prevention program. Their motto states, “ Inspiring Lives Free from Smoking, Vaping, and
Nicotine” (Truth Initiative, 2022). Truth Initiative helps young people quit vaping: they have
helped over 500,000 youth and adolescents quit vaping so far. They have a unique method in
helping young individuals quit smoking by incorporating an anonymous text messaging program
that provides resources and advice to the effected age group. They mention that they are, “the
first-of-its-kind quit program incorporates messages from other young people like them who
have attempted to, or successfully quit, e-cigarettes. Our messages show the real side of quitting,
both the good and the bad, to help young people feel motivated, inspired and supported
throughout their quitting process. We also send young people evidence-based tips and strategies
to quit and stay quit (Truth Initiative, 2022). This shows that this program is a highly accessible
and convenient means of reaching the youth at hand to help prevent more cases of nicotine
addiction, leading to better physical and mental health outcomes of our current youth population.
Conclusion
Although this world is not perfect, it is our duty as human beings to be the best we can in every
aspect of our lives. Issues like vaping may not ever fully be prevented or banned, but it is
essential for us to care for, and see the long-term outcomes of this unhealthy habit. Educating the
youth by reaching out and meeting them where they are is something crucial within the process
of prevention. And as Christians, it is our duty to demonstrate love and humility towards others,
and actively leading and educating the youth about the dangers of vaping is one enactment of
what Christ calls us to do.
References
Blaha, M. J. (2022, January 20). 5 vaping facts you need to know. 5 Vaping Facts You Need to
Know | Johns Hopkins Medicine. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from
https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/wellness-and-prevention/5-truths-you-need-to-
know-about-vaping#:~:text=%E2%80%9CPeople%20need%20to%20understand
%20that,and%20smoking%20with%20cardiovascular%20disease.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022, October 6). More than 2.5 million youth
reported e-cigarette use in 2022. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Retrieved
December 8, 2022, from https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2022/p1007-e-cigarette-
use.html
E-ciggarettes & Young People. (2022). Get the facts on e-cigarettes: Know the risks: E-
cigarettes & young people: U.S. surgeon general's report. E-cigarette Basics. Retrieved
December 8, 2022, from https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/getthefacts.html
Lisa Washburn. (n.d.). Publications complete listing. Understanding the Health Belief Model.
Retrieved December 8, 2022, from https://extension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents
This is quitting. Truth Initiative. (n.d.). Retrieved December 8, 2022, from
https://truthinitiative.org/thisisquitting
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (2022, February 10). Vaping devices (electronic
cigarettes) DrugFacts. National Institutes of Health. Retrieved December 8, 2022, from
https://nida.nih.gov/publications/drugfacts/vaping-devices-electronic-cigarettes
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