The Rise of E-Cigarettes Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) usage among young adults has risen dramatically in recent years, coinciding with increas-es in sales and advertisements.

1,2 At the forefront of the mar-

ket is JUUL, an e-cigarette company worth more than $16 bil-lion.

2,3 Use of JUUL by youth in schools, including in class-

rooms and bathrooms, has been widely reported in the media. While the FDA is working to address the issue of e-cigarette sales and advertising to young adults, there are many con-cerns about the dangers to youth currently using JUULs and other e-cigarettes:

1,4-5

1. Nicotine is particularly harmful to youth due to its ability to affect brain development, which continues until age 25. Because of this, nicotine is even more addictive for youth than adults. Long-term risks of nicotine use in youth include addiction, mood disorders, permanent low-ering of impulse control, and harmful effects on attention and learning. A single JUULpod con-tains as much nicotine as a pack of 20 regular cigarettes.

5

2. E-cigarette aerosol is not just nicotine or harmless water vapor. Other substances in e-cigarette aerosol include volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, ul-trafine particles that get inhaled deeply into the lungs, and chemi-cals such as diacetyl that have been linked to serious lung dis-eases. Scientists are still learn-ing about the long-term health effects of e-cigarette aerosol.

3. E-cigarettes may be a gate-way. There is some evidence that young adults who smoke e-cigarettes may actually increase their risk of smoking cigarettes in the future.

5,6 Using nicotine in

adolescence may also prime the brain for future addiction to other drugs. E-cigarette devices can also be used to deliver marijuana and other drugs.

Learn more at https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/.

I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :

Spotlight CPR

and First Aid

2

Syphilis Rising

in KC

2

November

CD Report

3

References 3

S P E C I A L

P O I N T S O F

I N T E R E S T :

E-cigarette use

is rising dramati-

cally among

youth in Platte

County

Spotlight PCHD!

Have you ever

learned CPR and

First Aid? What

about Mental

Health First Aid?

Syphilis is rising

in the KC region

Reported flu

cases are still

low in Platte

County

For more information or questions about Epi Update, contact

Erin Sanders, PCHD Epidemiology

Specialist at: (816) 858-2412

Epi Update A newsletter for healthcare professionals in Platte County, MO

D E C E M B E R 1 2 , 2 0 1 8 V O L U M E 5 , I S S U E 1 2

What’s in a JUUL

Starter Kit? 7

JUUL Device

USB Charger

Flavored

JUULpods

mint, tobacco, creme, mango

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

6 7 8 9 10 11 12School Grades

Ever used e-cigs Used e-cigs in past month

Just how many Platte County teens use e-cigarettes?

Since 2014, e-cigarette use has nearly doubled in 6th-12th

grade students in Platte County, MO school districts. Nearly 1

in 3 seniors surveyed in 2018 reported recent e-cigarette use.9

Did you know? E-cig companies are using the same advertising

techniques today as tobacco companies did over 50 years ago8

Percent of students in Platte County, MO school dis-tricts reporting electronic cigarette use by school grade, 2018 Missouri Student Survey 9

% o

f st

ud

ents

rep

orti

ng

e-c

ig u

se