Source:  Alex Elswick, assistant professor and Extension specialist

Over the last 75 years, smoking among adults and youths has been steadily decreasing. In the 2010s, rates of smoking reached all-time lows in the U.S. and Kentucky. Unfortunately, with the advent of vaping, this trend has quickly reversed.  

This reversal is especially concerning given that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to smoke cigarettes in adulthood. 

What are Vapes? 

Electronic cigarettes, or vapes (short for vaporizers), typically contain nicotine. However, they sometimes contain other substances such as THC, the chemical in marijuana that gets people high. 

Although emerging research seems to suggest that vaping is less harmful than smoking combustible cigarettes, vapes are nonetheless very harmful.  They are especially harmful for young, developing brains.   

In fact, most adult smokers began smoking before the age of 18. 

Youth vaping rates are significantly increasing 

Kentucky youth are vaping at a startling rate. The Kentucky Incentives for Prevention survey shows that vaping among 10th graders has increased almost 6% in five years – from 11.4% in 2016 to 17% in 2021.   

In that same year, more than 20% of Kentucky high school students, and nearly 10% of Kentucky 8th graders, reported vaping in the past month.   

In response, the state has launched a confidential quit line for youths called My Life, My Quit at ky.mylifemyquit.org/, which offers free coaching 24/7 via text, chat or call. 

Vaping facts (accordingly to ky.mylifemyquit.org): 

• Nicotine leaves you stressed out. Vaping to handle stress can make you more stressed! When you stop using nicotine, that “feel-good” dopamine stops flowing leaving you moody. The more nicotine you put into your brain, the more hooked you become. 
• Nicotine causes other problems. Using nicotine as a teen makes your brain think it needs it, causing problems with learning, memory, paying attention and managing your mood. Additionally, it can also make you more likely to get hooked on other drugs. 
• Vape and tobacco companies want you to get hooked on nicotine. By keeping you craving more, companies will keep you as customers for life. Teens who start vaping are four times more likely to smoke cigarettes or use other forms of tobacco. Almost 90% of adults who use nicotine today started as teens. 

We believe that quitting alone is hard; however, quitting with support is much easier. 

Contact your local (COUNTY NAME) Extension office for more resources, tips and information to help you and your family continue to make healthy decisions.   

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The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment news and communications team provides monthly Extension Exclusives in the categories of Horticulture, Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H and Family & Consumer Sciences. To see more exclusives, visit https://exclusives.ca.uky.edu.

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