Date of Award
4-2024
Document Type
Honors Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Science
Department
Public Health
Advisor/Committee Chair
Beth Feingold
Abstract
Since 2014, e-cigarettes have been more common among US youth than traditional cigarettes (Dinardo, P. et al., 2019). This switch from smoking cigarettes to vaping comes from a variety of aspects such as convenience, positive advertising, and the flavors of vapes available. Vaping can be done discreetly almost anywhere, allowing for much more frequent nicotine consumption than using traditional cigarettes (Dinardo, P. et al., 2019). 75% of students in 2022 reported seeing vapes in ads, television shows, and other forms of media. Furthermore, e-cigarette companies utilize sponsorships to showcase their companies and brands (ALA, 2024). An estimated 7,700 vaping flavors exist, predominantly affecting youth (Dinardo, P. et al., 2019). 90% of middle and high school students who vaped reported using flavored e-cigarettes (FDA, 2023). Vape flavors and marketing strategies are attracting middle school and high school age students to vaping, putting their health at risk. Throughout NYS, 18.7 percent of highschoolers vaped in 2022 (NYSDOH, 2024). This is detrimental due to the negative health effects associated with vaping. Vaping in adolescents is currently a much larger public health issue than cigarette usage. E-cigarettes are the most used tobacco product in high school students in NYS. Nearly 1 in 5 highschool students reported vaping nicotine compared to 1 in 50 who reported smoking cigarettes in 2022 (NYSDOH, 2024). E-cigarettes were originally marketed as a healthier alternative to help individuals quit smoking traditional cigarettes. Unfortunately, Vaping is a common gateway to tobacco and marijuana use for adolescents, and has similar negative health effects of vaping that are very similar to smoking cigarettes (Dinardo, P. et al., 2019). Vaping during adolescence can cause addiction, brain damage, lung damage and a decrease in overall health (NYSDOH, 2024).
Recommended Citation
Healy, Kerstyn, "Protect Your Youth: Anti-Vaping Campaign for Adolescent Girls" (2024). ALL - Honors Theses. 25.
https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/all_honors/25