In the past year, electric cigarettes have risen in popularity. Young adults and teens use them as an alternative for cigarettes.  Electric cigarettes were initially created to  help adults cut back from nicotine habits through tobacco cigarettes.

E-cigarette have been around a lot longer than most imagine. The first was patented  in 1927, by Joseph Robinson as a way to smoke without using combustion. Nothing much came of his invention.

In recent years, though, e-cigarettes and other non-combustion alternatives for cigarettes (such as vape pens, and juuls) have grown in popularity, particularly among the younger generation.

Like e-cigarettes, a vaporizer, also known as a vape pen or simply a vape, uses a module combined with interchangeable e-liquid. A rechargeable battery heats a small element that vaporizes the e-liquid in the device. Vaporizers use a tank to hold the e – liquid, unlike the e-cigarette, that uses a cartridge. 

Juuls have surged in popularity, particulary among high school and college students. While a vape pen is shaped much like the name suggests and is often easily recognized by authority figures, a juul is quite easy to disguise, as it looks very similar to a flash or thumb drive.  Teens are drawn to the sleek, technology-look of juuls.

Manufacturers are catering to the tastes and whims of the young generation. They offer sweet flavors with sweet scents to appeal to teens, most of whom disapprove of the taste and smell of traditional tobacco.

Over the past year, younger and younger teens have been getting their hand on these electric cigarettes, primarily for three reasons:

• One, friends or family members use them.
• Two, they love the availability of flavors such as mint, candy and fruit.
• Three, they believe the myth that electric cigarettes are less harmful than traditional, tobacco cigarettes.

All three of these reasons are deceptively dangerous. Teens and even adults don’t know the side effects and cons of inhaling electric cigarettes. The trend can lead to dangerous conditions and defects. For instance, there have been multiple instances of fires and burns due to vape malfunctions.

 One such occurrence involved a 33-year old father in England who began vaping because of the “health’ alternative everyone was talking about. While he was inhaling the nicotine from his vape, however, hot nicotine juice shot down his throat and burned a hole in his lung. This is just one among dozens of similar stories.

Beyond dramatic injury, other common dangers exist. Most electric cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a lethal poison and a highly addictive substance. Nicotine negatively impacts brain development and chemistry. It also raises blood pressure and spikes adrenaline, which increases heart rate and can lead to heart attacks.

While there is ample research out there regarding the negative impacts of traditional cigarettes and smoking, there are still many unknowns with regard to vaping and the long-term health consequences.  

Though these devices may seem harmless, they are impacting minds and bodies everywhere. Do yourself a favor and simply stay away from all of them.