Should E-Cigarettes be banned?
Many people can agree that smoking is bad for one’s health. Still, a new trend is coming up in these new generations where regular cigarettes are being replaced by electronic cigarettes, which are supposedly better. Cigarettes, despite the type, are harmful as the smoke causes effects on the lungs that result in other diseases such as kidney, respiratory, and cardiovascular (US Department of Health and Human Services). The E-cigarettes have no difference from traditional cigarettes except for the fact that they do not have tar or the by-products of cigarettes. E-cigarettes should be banned because it causes people serious health risks, leads to kids getting addicted to smoking, and potentially attracts more harmful drugs in the future.
Traditional cigarettes create severe respiratory problems and fatal heart conditions. While this is true, it does not mean e-cigs are a safer way to reduce health risks. Although E-cigarettes contain fewer effects than traditional cigarettes, they are not as healthy as the nicotine is harmful to people’s health system. As seen above, there have been sharp increases in toxic chemicals in e-cigs. Furthermore, e-cigs are more of a gateway drug, increasing the harm they can do to a person. It contributes to the use of other drugs such as heroin and cocaine, which are harmful to people’s health systems, such as the respiratory system and kidneys (Zubair).
First, vaping has detrimental effects on one’s health. They contain nicotine, which upsurges the mortality rate and allows usage of other hazardous drugs such as cocaine. Vaping leads to detrimental effects on the social and mental wellbeing of the user. It involves a process of inhaling and exhaling vapor, which is formed by once the liquid inside the cartridge, is heated. Studies indicate that e-cigs leads to more cardiovascular harm as compared to the sedentary lifestyle where despite no exercise the arterial walls cannot stiffen (Helen & Eaton).
Furthermore, e-cigs emit higher levels of toxins compared to tobacco smoking (Zubair). As a result, the effects, which are seen, form the smoking tobacco take for instance damage to the gums can even be expected after years of vaping. Lastly, Johns Hopkin’s Bloomberg School found the heating from the e-cig coils could create respiratory irritation and kidney disease (Helen & Eaton). The ability of the e-cigarette to recharge quickly means that it is a powerful object; however, on the downside, it delivers a higher nicotine concentration. Therefore, rather than reducing cigarette smoking, e-cigarettes encourages it. That was proven in a study, which showed that nonsmokers were four times more likely to migrate into traditional cigarette smoking after eighteen months of using the e-cigarette. Inhalation of cigarette smoke, on the other hand, causes lung diseases, which interfere with the respiratory system (Zubair).
Also, e-cigarettes have gained popularity, especially among the youths due to the sleek and discreet design, which can be charged with a phone charger. The percentage of high school students who vape has risen from 1.5 % in 2011 to 20.8% in 2018 (Berry, Fetterman & Benjamin). Furthermore, those students who use e-cigs are more likely to use regular cigarettes than even tobacco smoke (Regan). E-cigarettes contain a liquid-filled cartridge that contains various tobacco flavors such as fruit medley, cool mint, crème brulee, watermelon, and apple pie. The latter leaves a sweet smell in one’s breath and the atmosphere. At the end unsuspecting youths get attracted to the properties just like how bees get attracted to flowers and nectar. Nicotine affects the functionality of the brain by reducing the effectiveness of the prefrontal cortex. This region helps to controls the cognitive behavior of the users who, after a session, indicate that they are feeling more relaxed.
These addictions lead to severe health consequences. Seven puffs of E-cigarettes are equal to fourteen puffs of regular cigarettes. Studies further indicate that the amount of nicotine found in one packet of a cigarette is compared to that of a single e cigarette pod (Nowak, A & Jörres). On most occasions, users consume more than one pod per sitting. As a result, they unknowingly expose themselves to high levels of nicotine thus leading to long-term health problems. Most high school students use cigarettes due to peer pressure, whereby they surround themselves with people who smoke. Over time, one gets introduced into the vice since it can start as a single puff and in the long run, result in addiction. The addiction increases the usage of the drug, which not only affects the students health-wise but also inhibits their psychological system. About 22% of the younger generations attribute their cigarette use to e-cigs. That is proven in a study, which shows that nonsmokers are four times more likely to migrate into traditional cigarette smoking after eighteen months of vaping (Links). It was declared an epidemic to the extent that there was a dramatic 900% increase in vaping from 2011 to 2015 (US Department of Health and Human Services). Over the four years, the “need” to vape and own an e-cig increased by about 200% (Helen and Eaton). Through this dramatic increase in vaping, teens are much more easily exposed due to family members and the media, which frequently advertises e-cigarette devices. On average, an e-cigarette smoker uses up to $15 to refill cartridges. When addiction kicks in, a student may sell personal items to make a purchase. Since there is no bad odor left on the clothes or breath, its use can go undetected for long. Nicotine changes how synapses are created in the brain. Synapses play a huge role in learning up to the age of 25; therefore, by hindering its processes, one starts to lag in class (Olmedo). What was one a joyful behavior may change into a gloomy one especially after going for days without a smoke. Children often lock themselves in their room’s vaping, and they do not shy away from fights and quarrels. While at school, they regularly feel the urge to lie down, thus showing the hidden sings of addiction.
Apart from the health concerns, vaping is also a gateway drug to more harmful drugs. A study in 2010 shows an extreme direct correlation between smoking/vaping and the use of other drugs. Children who smoke are 19 times more likely to use cocaine than those who have never smoked (Volkow). E-cigs rely on nicotine, a primary addictive substance in regular cigarettes. While e-cigs may not have tar or the by-products of cigarettes, they can be a “powerful facilitator for addiction to cocaine and other drugs”. Nicotine has an increased mortality rate as well (Nowak, Jörres and Rüther). Nicotine is a stimulant and depressant effect that is highly addictive; thus, its presence in E-cigarettes causes health effects. Nicotine causes irritation and burning sensation in the throat and mouth. Also, it results in cases of diarrhea, vomiting, nausea, and abdominal that affects the kidney and respiratory system. It raises people’s blood pressure, which increases the heart rate and risks of a heart attack. The e-cigarette batteries can also use a “wax” made from marijuana. In the 20th century itself, tobacco and nicotine have killed 100 million people. If nicotine can lead to more harmful drugs, the mortality rate will most likely increase (Volkow).The aerosols, which are found in e-cigarettes, are highly harmful since it contains chemicals with ultrathin particles that get absorbed by the lungs. Scientists argue that besides nicotine, these chemicals, such as diacetyl, are significant contributors to lung disease (Kandel & Kandel). Other worrying chemical includes benzene, which is found in the car exhaust. Heavy metals such as lead and nickel are also found in the aerosols and when a smoker gets exposed to this for a long time, they increase their chance of getting blood cancer (Olmedo).
In conclusion, e-cigarettes should be banned because of their severe damage to one’s health, ability to attract the younger generation and the virtue of being a gateway drug. E-cigarettes are a sure way of increasing health risks since it contains toxic chemicals such as benzene and diacetyl. Besides that, there are heavy metals such as lead and nickel which after a long time of exposure, can lead to blood cancer. The presence of flavor and accessibility of E-cigarettes attracts youths who end up being addicted to nicotine use. In the end, the government needs to come up with stiff penalties for vendors who are found selling to under ages. Besides that, there should be a ban on e-cigarette advertisements on television. The government should come up with an antismoking week where the public would be educated on the effects of nicotine to the body and towards one’s life.
Works Cited
Berry, Kaitlyn M., Jessica L. Fetterman & Emelia J. Benjamin. “Association of Electronic Cigarette Use with Subsequent Initiation of Tobacco Cigarettes in US Youths,” .” JAMA Network Open, (2019): 23. Document. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/article-abstract/2723425
Helen, Gideon St, and David L. Eaton. “Public health consequences of e-cigarette use.” JAMA internal medicine (2018): 984-986. Document. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/2680315
Kandel, Eric R and Denise B. Kandel. “A molecular basis for nicotine as a gateway drug.” New England Journal of Medicine (2014): 932-943. Document https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMsa1405092
Links, Cool. ” “Surgeon General’s Advisory on E-cigarette Use Among Youth.” Azpress (2018): 2-4. Document . https://azfreepress.com/News–Our-Top-Stories&article_id=8706
Nowak, Dennis, Rudolf A Jörres and Tobias Rüther. “E-cigarettes—prevention, pulmonary health, and addiction.” Deutsches Ärzteblatt international (2014): 34-47. Document . https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4047602/
Olmedo, Pablo. “Metal concentrations in e-cigarette liquid and aerosol samples: the contribution of metallic coils.” Environmental health perspectives (2018): 11-14. Document. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4047602/
Regan, Annette K. “Electronic nicotine delivery systems: adult use and awareness of the ‘e-cigarette’in the USA.” Tobacco control (2013): 19-26. Document. https://tobaccocontrol.bmj.com/content/22/1/19.short
US Department of Health and Human Services. “The health consequences of smoking—50 years of progress: a report of the Surgeon General.” The Schroeder Institute (2014): 14-16. Document. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24455788
Volkow, Nora D. “”Drugs, brains, and behavior: The science of addiction.” National Institute on Drug Abuse (2010): 4-6. Document. https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/drugs-brains-behavior-science-addiction/preface
Zubair, Hanan Qasim. “Short-Term E-Cigarette Exposure Increases the Risk of Thrombogenesis and Enhances Platelet Function in Mice,” .” Journal of the American Heart Association (2018): 34-36. Document. https://www.ahajournals.org/doi/abs/10.1161/JAHA.118.009264