Health Advocates Warn Against E-Cigarettes for Students

As students return to school this month, health advocates and medical experts are reminding parents and teenagers that e-cigarettes or vapes are harmful. The latest data from Utah state suggests that efforts aimed at curbing the use of these products may have a positive impact.

I believe that parents, communities and schools are sending a message and that prevention plans are working in preventing teenage use of electronic cigarettes," said Sharon Jensen, student support services counselor for the Jordan School District. She is dedicated to addressing issues of drug abuse in the area and is also a member of the state education committee's Safe and Drug-Free Schools Workgroup.

New data from a statewide SHARP survey shows a sharp decrease in e-cigarette use among eighth, tenth, and twelfth grade students over the past two years. In 2019, 12.4% of teenagers reported using e-cigarettes, while last year that number was just under 7.8%.

All trends are decreasing," said Sharon Jensen. "But it's not until it hits the bottom that we'll be truly satisfied.

The best way to quit smoking is to never start smoking," said Dr. Denitza Blagev, a lung disease expert at Intermountain Healthcare.

Upon hearing this news of decline, she was surprised because she had been seeing patients with lung injuries related to e-cigarettes. Her research also shows that e-cigarettes not only damage the lungs. "We did find that 39% of patients with e-cigarette-related lung injuries had cognitive impairment one year later," she said. The average age of these patients was 30 years old.

Parents should be wary of unknown objects that look like pens or USB drives but are actually electronic cigarette devices. These devices typically emit a fruity scent as well.

Sometimes children use these things to cope with anxiety," said Bragov.

Health experts unanimously agree that prevention begins with open communication between parents and children.

I believe that all of us are helping young people realize that no, this is not a safe alternative to smoking. It's smoking in a different form," says Jensen.

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