Most Texas kids return to school next week and a new state survey found some of those students could be headed toward a bad habit.
The number of middle and high school students in Texas who use electronic cigarettes is increasing at an alarming rate, a new survey found.
One in four students has used an electronic cigarette, according to a state survey of secondary students.
Dr. Stephen Pont, a pediatrician at Dell Children’s Hospital said, “We are seeing more and more kids become addicted to e-cigarettes and they are filled with toxins and they are only going to be doing lots of damage to kids.”
Kids are taught from an early age that smoking is bad but people get a false sense of security from vaping, or the use of e-cigarettes.
“Folks are under the misconception that these are actually healthy or not harmful or not as bad as cigarettes but that’s absolutely not the case,” Dr. Pont said.
The state survey also found e-cigarettes are now more popular than traditional cigarettes among Texas teens.
“Vaping is actually healthier than cigarettes,” said Kemal White, owner of Austin Vape and Smoke shop. “Of course, doing nothing would be your best bet,” White added as he compared e-cigarettes to traditional cigarettes.
He said most of his customers are long-time cigarette smokers who are trying to quit and White said he didn’t sell to minors, even when it was legal to do so.
E-cigarette liquids come in thousands of different flavors with tastes that range from cigars to candy and ice cream.
Dr. Pont said this is a great opportunity for parents and communities to hold e-cigarette companies accountable for their products.
“They are specifically trying to tap into that new market of kids to make them become addicted and long-time consumers of these products,” said Dr. Pont.
The long-term effects of e-cigarettes are still not known and regulations by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) have not been finished or fully implemented.
Texas law did not prohibit the sale of e-cigarettes to minors until October of 2015.
The FDA started a new ban Aug. 8, no one under the age of 18 can buy hookah tobacco, cigars or e-cigarettes, either online or in person
“It for sure does damage to your lungs, increases chance of cancer, there could be side effects from consuming too much nicotine,” Dr. Pont said. He added young brains are more sensitive to addictive products like nicotine and more susceptible to toxins.
