E-Cigarette Use Among Adolescents

Abstract

The rapid increase of battery-operated electronic cigarettes (also known as e-cigarettes) among the adolescent population has become an epidemic and a leading public health concern. Inhalation of the aerosol produced by e-cigarettes, also known as vaping, exposes users to a variety of additives that include nicotine, tetrahydrocannabinol, cannabinoid, and other chemicals. Adolescents are especially vulnerable to the harmful effects of nicotine. In addition to promoting nicotine dependence, e-cigarette use has been linked to e-cigarette, or vaping, product use-associated lung injury. Screening for e-cigarette use should be done at each adolescent visit to ensure appropriate resources and education are provided.