9781422272336

grade and reported that 35 percent of twelfth graders had vaped in the previous month. The rising number of teenagers who use electronic vapor products is a trend that concerns many medical professionals, who believe that vaping is not as safe as has been advertised. Nicotine, they point out, is a dangerously addictive substance that alters the way that the mind works. Whether this drug is delivered through a cigarette or an electronic device makes no difference, as it can still have an adverse effect on the minds of teenagers, decreasing their cognitive skills, impacting the health of their heart, affecting their lung capacity, and much more. Medical professionals have yet to confirm whether vaping is actually safer than other smoking-cessation tools . By the fall of 2019, some preliminary studies were beginning to appear, indicating that vaping is not any safer than cigarette smoking. Additional studies need to be undertaken to ensure that teen and adult vapers can be fully informed about the potential risks of this habit. However, the increasing popularity of vaping has created a lucrative market for the devices, so combating aggressive marketing techniques is also a concern. Spending Is Increasing The worldwide economy for electronic vapor products has become exponentially larger over the last several years. Since the earliest e-cigarettes were introduced in 2011, the market for electronic vaping products has expanded to be worth about $22.6 billion annually. Electronic vapor devices are most commonly used in the world’s most developed countries, such as the United States, Japan, and the United Kingdom. These three markets account for a total of $16.3 billion in annual vaping-related tobacco sales, or over 70 percent of the global market.

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The Popularity of Vaping