Teen nicotine addiction is not new; different generations of teenagers in the United States have experimented with nicotine. Learn more about teen nicotine addiction in the era of vaping and e-cigarettes.
Nicotine addiction is defined as a dependence on the drug nicotine. Nicotine is one of the most addictive drugs on earth and is commonly found in manytobacco productslike cigarettes,e-cigarettes, and chewing tobacco. When nicotine is absorbed and metabolized by the body, the hormone adrenaline is secreted by organs known as the adrenal glands. In this case, adrenaline sparks feelings of pleasure and gives individuals a quick burst of energy.
Different individuals react differently to nicotine. Some people feel shaky while others feel more clear-headed after consuming products with nicotine. On the positive side,the use of opioidshas been decreasing steadily in the teenage population in recent years. Unfortunately, nicotine andmarijuana usehas become increasingly popular with legalization and due to the popularity of e-cigarette use in advertising and media. Thus,teen addictionto nicotine can easily happen from regularly using e-cigarettes, cigarettes and other tobacco products.
Teen Nicotine Addiction Statistics
Some health officials considervapingthe next big public health crisis due to lack of government oversight and regulation about what ingredients are used in e-cigarettes and similar products. Though there is more regulation of regular tobacco products than e-cigarettes currently, having an accurate and up-to-date understanding about teen vaping, cigarette smoking and other tobacco use is of the utmost importance. Additionally, having knowledge about teen nicotine addiction statistics is critical to have an honest andopen conversation with teenagers.
Recent teenage cigarette smoking statistics include:
Teen Vaping and Nicotine Addiction
Since teen vaping is so popular among the youth in the United States, nicotine addiction has become a very realistic prospect for teens who use these products frequently. The phenomenon of teenagers vaping has been magnified bysocial mediaand many different news outlets.Teenage vaping statistics from 2018include:
- 21.5% of 8th graders, 36.9% of 10th graders and 42.5% of 12th graders reported vaping at least once in their lives.
- 17.6% of 8th graders, 32.3% of 10th graders and 37.3% of 12th graders reported vaping in the past year.
- 10.4% of 8th graders, 21.7% of 10th graders and 26.7% of 12th graders reported vaping in the past month.
- Of teens who reported vaping in the past year, teens report vaping nicotine, marijuana or hash oil or simply for the flavors.
These alarming statistics suggest that many teens have at least tried vaping, with more use reported by older teens about to graduatehigh school. Because close to 40% of 12th grade students have reported vaping at least once in the past year, the potential for addiction is enormous in this population.
Nicotine Addiction Symptoms in Teens
How can a parent, guardian, friend or loved one recognize nicotine addiction in teens? Nicotine addiction symptoms may be obvious or more subtle depending on the teen. Some symptoms will be more uncomfortable than others, especially if a teen has developed a physical dependence on nicotine. It is even possible for individuals who infrequently use nicotine products to become addicted or at the very least have a difficult time trying to drop the bad habit.
Some signs of nicotine addiction may include
Parents and guardians should take note that their teen may go through withdrawal from nicotine if they do not use a tobacco product for an extended time period. Though nicotine withdrawal may not be as difficult as withdrawals from other drugs (e.g. heroin), nevertheless this will be a difficult time for a teen. Importantly, withdrawal symptoms ease after a few days of not using tobacco products.
Effects of Nicotine on Teens
Besides becoming addicted to nicotine, what are the potentialeffects of nicotineon the teenage brain? Stated in another way, what are the effects of smoking in adolescence whether teens use cigarettes, e-cigarettes, smokeless tobacco or other forms? In particular, what does preliminary research suggest about e-cigarettes and teenagers? To answer these important questions, an individual must have an understanding of the physical, behavioral and mental health effects of nicotine on teens.
First, nicotine has negative effects on theteenage brain. Namely, the adult brain is still developing and is not fully “mature” until a person reaches25 years of age. This means that almost all teenagers’ brains are still developing when they try smoking cigarettes, e-cigarettes or even marijuana. Nicotine can decrease a teen’s impulse control and can increase a teen’s likelihood of developing an addiction later in life, even to completely different drugs than tobacco.
Further, early research on e-cigarettes and vaping suggests that like regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes are made withharmful chemicalsfrom flavoring and even a volatile chemical known as benzene. Thus, there are many harmful effects on targets who use nicotine in whatever form.
Talking to Teens About Nicotine Use
What is the best way for parents to talk to their teen about smoking? Additionally, how can parents broach the subject of e-cigarettes and youth? There are several tips for having an open, non-judgmental and positive discussion about smoking.
Some of these tips include:
Help for Teens Addicted to Nicotine
How can parents help their teens addicted to nicotine? In the United States, there are many different options for nicotine addiction treatment. For example, teens may opt to go to inpatient or outpatient rehabilitation facilities, meet with support groups, see trained counselors or visit therapy, among other options.
