To Vape, or Not to Vape, Facts FOR Students David SuDA, M.ED, LPC Western Psychiatric Hospital, UPMC

That is the Question. William Shakespeare

Switching over to E-Cigarettes. Second Largest Manufacturer of Tobacco Products. They make Cigarettes! Switching over to E-Cigarettes.

E-Cigarettes!!! Phillip Morris Largest Manufacturer of Tobacco Products. They make Cigarettes! Acknowledging that Cigarettes are Harmful…So we need a new product.

2014 More money being spent on Vaping means more use. In 2014 Vaping became more popular than traditional cigarettes.

We Have to Make Choices in Life?

I’ll Just Do What Everyone Else is Doing? Thinking can be hard. It’s Easy To Do That.

Good Decisions Need Good Information

Knowledge is Important! I Am Not Here To Preach To You!

The BIG Question: Is Vaping Safe?

NO!

Vaping is Smoking You are putting stuff in your lungs that doesn’t belong there. All those chemicals are no good. Just a little bit may be too much. Made for Oxygen Only. Nothing Else!!

What is in a Vape Cloud? Is This Stuff Safe? It’s Complicated!!

What Does the Vape & Tobacco Companies say? These chemicals are safe. The FDA has approved them. Used in makeup, a variety of foods, and mouthwash. They are common in many industries and they don’t cause cancer. Food & Drug Administration They make sure the stuff we use is safe.

Yes, its true they were approved by the FDA so they are safe. But, they were not being used in a Vaping device, and being inhaled.

Not as Safe as They Say. Why? Approved for ingestion in your stomach and external use. Your Lungs are different from your Stomach. Exposure over a long time is a problem.

“I Got an IDEA! I’ll Just Try it, and I Can Always Quit.”

What is This?

NICOTINE Very Strong and Highly Addictive Drug Found in Traditional Cigarettes and Vaping Devices. It makes it hard to stop once you start.

Here Comes the Juul! Small Vaping Device with a strong dose of Nicotine. The same Nicotine that is found in a Whole Pack of Cigarettes! It’s the NICOTINE that will bring you back.

Intense Marketing Towards Children Even though E-Cig promoters refute this it is very advantageous to them. Large Tobacco Companies are interested in you developing a habit. They realize that the MONEY is in VAPING not in SMOKING. VAPING

The Earlier You Start the Harder it is to Stop. The Longer the More Dangerous.

A Very Short Course in Brain Development NEXT A Very Short Course in Brain Development

Your Brain is the most Protected Organ in your Body. That’s Why You Have a Thick Skull.

This Will Heal. Ouch!!! This Will Not! Interestingly, Brain Cells Do Not Regenerate This Will Heal. Ouch!!! This Will Not!

The Brain ‘Wires” itself. This is Your Brain! The Brain ‘Wires” itself. Most of Development takes place in the first 25 Years. Your Brain is still growing Right Now!!

Neural Pathways are Enhanced by the Things We Do.

Drugs also Enhance Pathways in the Brain. The Brain gets use to them and expects them. Without them it no longer feels “Okay”. This certainly leads to other problems.

Question: What is Addiction? Answer: Addiction is a Brain Disease. Need a Chemical or Substance to Function. Seek out the Drug Despite all Consequences.

Addiction and the Brain Drugs, like those we discussed, can create unhealthy pathways in the brain. Once these pathways are open they are hard to close. These open, well traveled, pathways lead to behaviors that are hard to change.

Close to 90 Percent of Addiction Starts in Adolescence. BIG STATISTIC Close to 90 Percent of Addiction Starts in Adolescence. That’s 90%!

But, All of My Friends are Doing It...

This certainly can be a PROBLEM!!! So How Can we Handle It?

Always Take the High Road!! Don’t be Afraid to Stand Alone. Keep Yourself Safe. Educate Them.

Studies, Research, and Statistics As of 2014 more youth have tried E-Cigs than traditional cigarettes. (2014, Allegheny Health Dept) 20% of Adolescents (14-19) have tried E-Cigs (2015, AHD). 30% of College students have used E-Cig, while 15% are current users (NY Study, 2015).

Studies, Research, and Statistics E-Cigs are a 80 Billion Dollar Industry that is growing. Ove 70 Vaping Businesses in Allegheny County. Currently there is little regulation with E-Cigs. This includes vape juice, vape devices, sales, and service. In Allegheny County E-Cigs & Vaping is forbidden in public places (the same as smoking).

Studies, Research, and Statistics First time E-Cig use can lead to smoking (traditional Cigarettes. (Primack, 2017) No clinical proof as a cessation device. Toxic! Not just products, but the metals in the E-Cig device. May prove to be more toxic than traditional cigarettes.

Take Care of Your Brain

There is Help to Quit Pennsylvania Quitline 1-800-QUIT-NOW The Quitline is available for age 14 and older 24/7 by calling 1-800- QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) TTY: 1-877-777-6534 Allegheny County Cessation Resources: http://tobaccofreeallegheny.org/where-to-get-help/  Ask your school counselor, nurse or Student Assistance Team for help