What nice etiquette
Not to be burning a cigarette.
With flavors like Diet Coke
Instead of plain old smoke.
Youth claim to thrive
On something that resembles a flash drive.
But wait,
Maybe we should take five.
It seems vaping has strayed from its original intent.
It is no longer used to prevent.
And is now an addictive supplement.
Without trying to overreact,
Let me present some facts:
With every juice pod that is drained,
There are effects on the brain.
Research shows detriments to the prefrontal cortex –
An area so important for cognitive development…
Especially during adolescence!
This is what lower activity in this region can mean:
Difficulty choosing between
Or even troubles controlling the obscene…
Things that, quite frankly, are already hard enough for teens.
So make sure you look for the current research and stats.
So next time one says it’s healthier than cigarettes,
You can say, “Well maybe we should chat.”
References:
England L, Bunnell RF, Pechacek, et al. Nicotine and the developing human: A neglected element in the electronic cigarette debate. American Journal of Preventive Medicine. 2015;49(2): 286–293.
Musso F, Bettermann F, Vucurevic G, et al. (2007). Smoking impacts on prefrontal attentional network function in young adult brains. Psychopharmacology. 2007;191(1): 159-169.
Primack BA, Shensa A, Sidani JE, et al. Initiation of traditional cigarette smoking after electronic cigarette use among tobacco-naïve US young adults. The American Journal of Medicine. 2018;131(4): 443.e441-443.e449.
Yuan M, Cross SJ, Loughlin SE, Leslie FM. Nicotine and the adolescent brain. Journal of Physiology. 2015;593(16):3397-412.
