By: Nick Schonken in partnership with Isabella Valero
Vaping has multiple side effects on the human body and continues to affect the mental and physical states of people. The usage of nicotine, cannabis, and vaping, can result in negative side effects; especially when used in excess.
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), “about 1 of every 5 high school students (19.6%) reported in 2020 that they used electronic cigarettes in the past 30 days.” If it increases at its current rate, they predict, “5.6 million of today’s Americans younger than 18 will die early from a smoking-related illness.”
Such numbers by the CDC only account for nicotine-based smoking and not the rapidly increasing cannabis-based smoking in teenagers (NIH).
The Effects of Cannabis, Nicotine, and Vaping on The Body
Nicotine:
Nicotine is rarely sold as an individual product; instead, it is found in gums, patches, tobacco, and e-liquids.
Nicotine was ingested daily by more than 32 million Americans of age 12 and older in 2014(American Addiction Centers). Smoking kills about 480,000 Americans annually, “[remaining] the most preventable cause of death in the United States” (VeryWellMind).
Nicotine’s addictive nature can be understood in how it functions. After being absorbed into the body, it acts upon the brain’s reward system; creating a pleasant sensation and a boost in mood.
The American Addiction Centers says “a dependency on nicotine can build up quickly when someone smokes regularly, and nicotine may be one of the toughest drugs to stop using without help.”
This double-edged sword of something that makes the user feel good and gets them addicted plays a pivotal role in realizing the “why” of the youth vaping epidemic. The issues, however, come when the negative effects of nicotine are accounted for.
The CDC says that the use of “nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.”
They further say that “each time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, stronger connections – or synapses – are built between brain cells. Young people’s brains build synapses faster than adult brains. Nicotine changes the way these synapses are formed.”
Nicotine is also said by the CDC to be a gateway of sorts to further addictions; stating that “using nicotine in adolescence may also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs”
Cannabis:
The subject of cannabis covers a wide variety of sub-topics; such as the endocannabinoid system in the body, cannabidiol (CBD), and the cannabinoid called Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).
But, the smoking of cannabis primarily focuses on THC, the psychoactive part of cannabis.
Cannabinoids are compounds found in cannabis (Wikipedia). The term psychoactive means something that affects the mind or behavior (Merriam-Webster).
Cannabis that’s taken in the forms of bongs, joints, vapes, wax, or other vaporized ways can affect the functions of your lungs by harming the tissues or cause “scarring and damage to small blood vessels” (CDC).
The infusion of Cannabis into the body can be done in many ways, but there are some general things that happen when taken.
When your body metabolizes the compounds found in cannabis one of the initial side-effects include impairment or altering of the mind, commonly referred to as feeling “high.”
This impairment is dangerous, especially when driving. The CDC says that it can “impair coordination and distort perception.” They also say that “some studies have shown an association between marijuana use and car crashes.”
Cannabis consumption can lead to heart issues due to artificially inclined heart rate and higher blood pressure.
According to the CDC, cannabis “use has been linked to social anxiety, depression, and schizophrenia” and some studies also show that “approximately 3 in 10 people who use marijuana have marijuana use disorder” (marijuana use disorder)
Teenagers, however, do not have fully developed brains; the brain fully develops around the early to mid 20’s of one’s life. The lack of full development in the brain leads to THC having a more prevalent effect on the function of the brain.
According to the American Addiction Center, a research and rehab-based organization, “Studies have shown that the use of marijuana is associated with reduced cognitive function in teens. One study found that teens who regularly use marijuana lose an average of 5.8 IQ points by the time they reach adulthood.”
A 2018 study found that “cannabis is associated with more concurrent and long-term consequences on adolescent cognitive functions than alcohol”. Meaning that, according to their research, it is highly likely that cannabis is worse for the function of the brain than the consumption of alcohol.
It is important to note that research revolving around cannabis consumption and its effects is a relatively new development. Some say that the federal classification of the drug made it difficult to do studies and analyze the effects of the drug. New information is constantly coming out on the topic and it is important to stay informed. Like all studies, these sources can be wrong, but only future research can prove them right or wrong. Please understand that this is just the nature of the subject.
Vape Flavoring/Miscellaneous:
Vape flavorings have become objectively synonymous with the allure e-cigarettes have on non-smokers.
Over the years, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has rejected million-plus applications for e-cigarettes and related products. Only recently they have approved one. This e-cigarette device is strictly tobacco flavored, setting precedence to the gateway that flavorings are to individuals.
According to John Hopkins Medicine, “Some of these additives found in e-liquid are dangerous — even deadly. For example, vitamin E acetate has been indicated in EVALI, which stands for e-cigarette or vaping product use associated lung injury. This is a potentially fatal syndrome associated with vaping, and it was on the rise in 2019. Vitamin E acetate is OK to eat, but dangerous to inhale.”
A common issue with the additives found in vapes is that users will see they can eat some of them and assume it’s safe. John Hopkins furthers their statement with “we don’t know what’s ‘safe.’ You may be able to eat something safely, but if you inhale it, there may be a harmful effect.”
One of the biggest issues when it comes to flavors in e-liquid is that some studies show that the heating of the addatives/e-liquid can lead them to form new compounds which may be dangerous.
Some chemicals commonly used in e-liquids have been shown to show very adverse effects; such as cinnamaldehyde, vanillin, and diacetyl. Cinnamaldehyde is responsible for cinnamon flavoring, vanillin for vanilla flavoring, and diacetyl for buttery and creamy flavorings.
A study done by researchers at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill suggests that cinnamaldehyde impairs normal airway function.
Another study found “that the presence of either vanillin or cinnamaldehyde in e-liquids was associated with higher toxicity values.
Furthermore, Healthline says that diacetyl “caused workers in a microwave popcorn manufacturing plant in the United States to become sick and die. The cause: “popcorn lung,” or bronchiolitis obliterans, a scarring of the lung tissue that causes narrowing of the airways, leading to shortness of breath, wheezing, and symptoms similar to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.”
Moving past flavoring, a 2018 study found that teeth that had been exposed to vape aerosol had a higher amount of bacteria than those not exposed. According to Healthline, “excess bacteria are associated with tooth decay, cavities, and gum diseases”.
Although a 2018 review by the National Academy of Sciences concluded that vaping poses fewer threats to oral health than smoking cigarettes, an issue not included in the review still poses a great threat. The overheating or explosion of batteries.
Austin Adams was a 17-year-old boy who switched to vaping in an attempt to try and stop smoking. However, his vape battery explode in his mouth, which had “knocked out several teeth and shattered his jaw” (NBCNews).
Such explosions can lead to blindness, broken bones, cuts and bleeding, holes in the tongue and mouth, permanent scars, loss of teeth or fingers, severe burns, or even death says VapeDanger
The issue is to the point where the FDA released an article in which they give “Tips to Help Avoid ‘Vape’ Battery Explosions”.
This is part one of a two-part series on student smoking. Read the second part here.
Works Cited
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Nikki Schonken
Nikki Schonken '23 is a two-year writer for the Redwood Gigantea, a 4-year member of the RHS band, a CSF member, and a photographer.
Contact info: njschonken@gmail.com
Tags: Isabella Valero, Nick Schonken, Nicotine, redwood high school, side effects, Smoking, THC, Vape Flavoring, vaping, vusd, Weed
