Vaping Isn’t Harmless: Here’s the Truth by Anushka Bhatt

 Vaping Isn’t Harmless: Here’s the Truth

by Anushka Bhatt

Vapes look slick: USB-shaped, neon-flavored, no smoky smell. Marketing screams “cleaner than cigarettes,” so teens everywhere pass the mango cloud. Reality check: most vapes still pack nicotine—hyper-addictive, especially to developing brains. According to the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey, about 1.63 million U.S. middle- and high-schoolers (5.9%) reported vaping in the past 30 days. That’s lower than 2023, but it’s still the most-used tobacco product among youth.U.S. Food and Drug AdministrationCDC

Besides nicotine, e-liquids can carry diacetyl (linked to “popcorn lung”), heavy metals like lead, and volatile organic compounds you don’t want decorating your alveoli. Some teens have landed in the ER with vaping-related lung injuries. Long-term research is still unfolding, but early data says: inflammation, reduced lung function, and potential heart issues.
Bottom line: just because it tastes like cotton candy doesn’t mean your lungs want the party. Treat anything you inhale with the same caution you’d use for mystery food—read the label, know the risks, and remember that “safer” is not the same as “safe.”