
So what's the big deal?
E-cigarette use among young people has reached epidemic levels in Summit County, the State of Colorado, and the U.S. However, in the past few years, we have seen a positive increase in teens not using e-cigarettes.
Only one in eleven teens in Colorado have vaped in the last month, a significant decrease from the 2017 stat of one in four teens. At Summit High School, 92.5% of students have not vaped in the past 30 days.
49.4% percent of students in Summit County believe it would be very easy to get e-cigarettes.
And over one-fourth have experimented with it.


What is vaping?
Most e-cigarettes consist of four parts:
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a cartridge or reservoir or pod, which holds a liquid solution (e-liquid or e-juice) containing varying amounts of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals
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a heating element (atomizer)
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a power source (usually a battery)
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a mouthpiece that the person uses to inhale
Puffing activates the battery-powered heating device, which vaporizes the liquid in the cartridge. The person then inhales the resulting aerosol, or vapor.
Why does
it matter?
Vaping is claimed as a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, but that is simply not true.
Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can:
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Harm brain development, which continues until about age 25.
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Impact learning, memory, and attention.
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Increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.
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While the health risks of secondhand smoke from cigarettes is widely known, there are real, rarely discussed, health risks associated with exposure to secondhand nicotine vape as well. These include:
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a heightened risk of bronchitic symptoms, as well as shortness of breath.
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a significant increase in metabolites that are linked to chemicals found in e-cigarette liquids.
Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to go on to use regular cigarettes.
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Many e-cigarettes come in kid-friendly flavors – including mango, fruit, and crème – which make e-cigarettes more appealing to young people.
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Nearly 9 in 10 U.S. youth who report current use of e-cigarettes use flavored e-cigarettes.​
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These flavors can make vaping more appealing to children and teenagers, and are thus not authorized by the FDA - yet tobacco retailers continue to sell them illegally.
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E-cigarette aerosol is not harmless. It can contain harmful substances, including:
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Nicotine
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Cancer-causing chemicals
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Volatile organic compounds
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Ultrafine particles
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Flavorings that have been linked to lung disease
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Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead
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Good News!
Colorado no longer leads the nation in youth vaping.
West Virginia currently leads with 35.7% of youth reporting vaping whereas Colorado falls in 12th place.
What do they look like?
Now that you know what vaping is and its harmful effects, it's important that you know what it looks like.
Many e-cigarettes look like other items commonly used by youth, such as pens and other everyday items. New e-cigarettes shaped like USB flash drives are popular among youth, including JUULs and Bidi sticks. Other e-cigarettes are bright in color, often rechargeable, and have games on them.
















Some vaping devices are much more concealable than others.
The images below show vaping devices disguised as a Sharpie, part of a sweatshirt, and a smartwatch.



What about nicotine pouches (ZYNs)?
Aside from vaping, there are other ways that youths are beginning to get their hands on nicotine. One of these includes nicotine pouches.
Nicotine pouches are small, disposable pouches containing nicotine powder or salts, flavorings, and other ingredients. Unlike cigarettes and vaping devices, which produce smoke or vapor, nicotine pouches are more discreet and harder for parents to detect.

They are placed between the lip (or cheek) and gums, allowing nicotine to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream through the mouth's mucous membranes.
While nicotine pouches may appear as a safer option compared to cigarettes or vaping, as they don't contain the known carcinogens found in tobacco and aren't inhaled into the lungs, they are still not recommended for use due to their addictive properties. This is particularly true for young people.
The most popular brand of nicotine pouches right now are ZYNs. They are mostly sold with a nicotine content of either 3mg or 6mg per pouch, and the average user consumes 8-12 pouches per day. A user consuming that many pouches per day, at 6mg of nicotine per pouch, is ingesting nicotine equivalent to about 3 packs of cigarettes or 1.5 e-cigarette pods of 2% vape juice.
What you can do to help:
As a parent or caregiver, you are essential in protecting children from e-cigarettes.
The more you discuss the dangers of vaping, the better equipped you’ll be to correct any misinformation. Keep the conversation open, whether a teen has started vaping or may need help with nicotine addiction.
It’s never too late.
Teens might view occasional vaping as "no big deal," but it's essential to recognize that it is not harmless. Vaping nicotine can adversely impact a teen's learning and memory by fostering addiction. Because their brains are still developing, teens can become addicted more quickly than adults.
Set a good example by being tobacco-free.
Talk to them about healthy alternatives to deal with stress.
Not sure how to get the conversation started?
We get it. Starting a conversation about vaping can be uncomfortable. Here are some helpful tips on how to connect with the youth in your life
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Talk with Your Teen About E-cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents
A guide on how to start to conversation, keep it going, and knowing what to expect.
Should I Talk to My Kids About Vaping?
Know when the appropriate time to start to conversation is.
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Getting Candid: Framing the Conversation Around Youth Substance Prevention
A comprehensive guide on how to start to conversation, understanding the motivation, the "do's and don'ts" of talking to youth, and establishing trust.
Sources Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n.d.). Why youth vape. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-cigarettes/why-youth-vape.html Daley, J. (2024, September 12). Once top in the nation for youth e-cigarette use, Colorado’s usage rate has sharply dropped after community response. Colorado Public Radio. https://www.cpr.org/2024/09/12/colorado-youth-e-cigarette-use-drops/ Healthy Kids Colorado Survey. (n.d.). Healthy Kids Colorado Survey Information. 2023 High School School-Level Report Survey Results. https://cdphe.colorado.gov/hkcs MacMillan, C. (2024, July 22). What parents should know about nicotine pouches. Yale Medicine. https://www.yalemedicine.org/news/nicotine-pouches Products, F. C. for T. (n.d.). Vaping Prevention & Education. HHS.gov. https://digitalmedia.hhs.gov/tobacco/educator_hub/about/for_parents?utm_source=CTPPartnerSocial&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=ctp-healthobservance Islam, T., Braymiller, J., Eckel, S. P., Liu, F., Tackett, A. P., Rebuli, M. E., Barrington-Trimis, J., & McConnell, R. (2022). Secondhand nicotine vaping at home and respiratory symptoms in young adults. Thorax, 77(7), 663–668. https://doi.org/10.1136/thoraxjnl-2021-217041 Children at risk: Emory study uncovers the hidden dangers of secondhand vape exposure. (n.d.). Emory.edu. https://news.emory.edu/stories/2024/03/hs_nursing_research_vaping_26-03-20243/story.html FDA finalizes enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children, including fruit and mint. (2020, March 24). U.S. Food and Drug Administration; FDA. https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-finalizes-enforcement-policy-unauthorized-flavored-cartridge-based-e-cigarettes-appeal-children American Lung Association. (n.d.). ZYN 101: What to know about big tobacco’s latest addiction. Lung.org. Retrieved October 10, 2024, from https://www.lung.org/blog/zyn-nicotine-addiction