We all know that smoking is bad news—especially for your lungs. And, it’s becoming clearer and clearer: Vaping is not “safe” for young people either, no matter what you’ve heard.
In 2019, news outlets reported people experiencing vaping-associated lung injuries. This condition comes with some pretty rough symptoms—like nausea and vomiting, shortness of breath, coughing, and sometimes fever—and has sent people across the country to the hospital. While we still aren’t sure about all the factors that contribute to these lung injuries, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has a few leads. To stay safe, avoid all vapor products and e-cigarettes.
Not only is vaping bad for your lungs, THC has serious side effects, especially for those under 21. Marijuana can impact brain development, learning, and memory in teens—not to mention a lot of other not-so-good effects.
Don’t vape but know others that do? Encourage those around you to quit.
If you or a friend need help quitting, call 1-866-TEENLINK or visit www.teenlink.org. You can also download the free smartphone app, 2Morrow Health, to help with quitting. Get the app by visiting www.doh.wa.gov/quit and following the registration prompts to receive an activation code and password.
MORE INFORMATION
No matter if you’re using nicotine, marijuana, or flavors, vaping can have impacts to your
health >> LEARN MORE
You can also stay up-to-date on the vaping-associated lung injury by visiting the Washington State Department of Health website >> FIND OUT MORE