VAPING AND MENTAL HEALTH

By Sarah Larson, Community Health Educator

Did you know that our brains continue to develop until we are 25 years old? Our brains are actively learning and pruning (use it or lose it!), especially during adolescence. Most of us know that e-cigarettes and vaping aren’t good for our bodies, but why are they especially harmful for youth and the developing brain?

The prefrontal cortex is the front portion of our brain that helps us make decisions. This is the last part of our brain to develop, which is why we may be more impulsive when we’re young. The good thing about our brains is that they are very moldable when we are young, which means we can learn and develop skills that will stick with us. However, when our brains are developing, they are also very vulnerable to chemicals that stimulate the “reward center.” That means that substances that allow our brains to release feel-good chemicals can be especially addictive. Addiction happens when our brains become dependent on the substance or chemicals that may make us feel a certain way, and our brains have a difficult time feeling good without those substances, causing irritability, low moods, and other physical discomforts.

When we are young, we tend to be interested in experimenting and learning new ways to engage with the world. If we feel bad, we may turn to things to relieve pain or anxiety. We may pick up vaping or something else just out of curiosity or to feel better. However, vaping and using substances actually make anxiety and depression worse. Addictions may start as a way of trying to control those feel-good chemicals in our brain, but the substances usually end up controlling us.

So, why are there laws that limit substances like alcohol, marijuana, and nicotine for people under the age of 21? Well, it’s because of how our brains develop. Before our 20s, our brains are more vulnerable to addiction, also known as substance use disorder. If someone starts using substances as a young person, they are more likely to become addicted for life because those pathways solidify in the developing brain. E-cigarettes, or vapes, use a unique form of nicotine, called nicotine salts, that mask the harsh taste and can make them even more addictive. Vape pods can contain as much, or more, nicotine than a pack of cigarettes. Companies know how to make their products addictive and entice young people by making interesting flavors, leading to customers with lifelong addiction. While nicotine itself is very addictive, other products like cannabis can also lead to addiction, known as cannabis use disorder.

So, how can we help the young people in our lives? Well, we can offer support if they are trying to quit — quitting can take time and multiple attempts. Secondly, we can help them learn how to manage stress in a healthy way. We can also encourage their unique talents and gifts. Overall, we can steer them towards developing healthy pathways in their brain just by being a caring, supportive presence.

VAPING AND MENTAL HEALTH

The 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey shows that about 1 in 10 middle and high school students use e-cigarettes, and more than 1 in 4 who use e-cigarettes vape daily. At the same time, symptoms of anxiety and depression in young people have doubled from pre-pandemic levels.

These two crises are not isolated. Though more research is needed about the connections between vaping nicotine and mental health, numerous studies expose the worrying connections between them.

Many young people start and continue to vape because they think vaping will relieve their mental health symptoms. The most common reason youth give for continuing to use e-cigarettes after their first use is “I am feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed.” The illusion that vaping improves mental health was created by the tobacco industry and pushed through marketing, preying on those looking for relief.

THE REAL COST OF VAPING: POOR MENTAL HEALTH

Young people who vape report more days of poor mental health than those who don’t. Vaping nicotine can make existing mental health conditions worse. Using e-cigarettes is associated with difficulty concentrating, remembering, and making decisions.

References available at www.ansrmn.org/issues-resources/e-cigarettes.