Despite widespread awareness of the health risks, smoking and e-cigarette use among youth remain persistent problems.
Today on TSET's Health Matters, News 9 Health Coach Dottie Small explores its evolution, its continuing appeal and the risks parents need to know about now.
Dr. Ryan Brown, a leading expert on adolescent health, discussed historical context and current trends regarding youth smoking.
He said tobacco marketing can be traced back to the mid-20th century, with campaigns like the “Marlboro Man” that appealed to the masses, but the landscape for nicotine products has evolved significantly since then.
“Tobacco has been a problem for kids for as long as cigarettes have been around, and they've always been around,” Brown said. “It wasn't until probably the early 2000s that e-cigarette technology as we know it today started to emerge.”
Brown noted that nicotine, the main ingredient in cigarettes and e-cigarettes, is a powerful stimulant that affects brain development.
“If you look at the science, it really does affect brain metabolism, meaning a child's brain isn't fully mature until they're 24 or 25 years old,” Brown said.
Despite claims that e-cigarettes are a healthier alternative to smoking, Brown denied the claims, saying that while e-cigarettes may contain fewer carcinogens than traditional cigarettes, they still contain nicotine.
“It's an addictive drug for adults and children alike. So it's mood issues, mental health issues. You can get cancer from just a small amount of liquid ingested,” Brown said.
Brown also noted that schools and parents face challenges in detecting and managing e-cigarette use among students because e-cigarettes can be disguised as everyday products.
He encourages anyone struggling with nicotine addiction to seek medical help rather than switching from smoking to e-cigarettes.
To learn more about the dangers of e-cigarettes and how to get help, visit https://talkabouttobacco.com
