is vaping really an "epidemic" among teens?

[stols001]

First of all, while I understand the colloquial use of the term "epidemic" this annoys me in this context as formal epidemiology is the study of how illness, or even perhaps more broadly "harm" is transmitted to members of a given class.

There "may" be (if counting a "have you EVER used an Ecig as teens tend to experiment) a larger number of teen vapers than when oh vaping DID NOT EXIST. However, the choice of the use of an ecig is voluntary, it is not "spread" from one teen to another, furthermore there is NO ILLNESS or even HARM to acquire as yet, as ecigs have not been proven to show harm especially on an occasional or even one time basis. There is no viral JUUL virus to SPREAD among the teens and it does not remotely fit the real definition of an epidemic.

In society epidemic has come to mean "Oh my gosh a LOT of people are doing something and we don't like it!") and the word is used because it has prior frightening connotations. The AIDS epidemic for example did have truly frightening implications, and to use it on teen vaping is... disgusting frankly.

Furthermore, other than ecig vendors sticking to laws concerning vaping that are on the books, there is nothing to "solve" nothing that is "needed to be done" other than PERHAPS STOP focusing so relentlessly on a FAKE epidemic that gets teens interested and becomes a self fulfilling prophesy.

Teens will vape. Teens will text behind the wheel, they will die or kill others. Teens will continue to be teens and I would 100% rather have teens try vaping than smoking it is FAR safer.

There is an epidemic called "the government's need to tax." It is that, and that only we should be fighting against.

I am now of the opinion it doesn't matter much how we "could reduce teen vaping." I SIMPLY don't care because the EPIDEMIC is a sham. Once the furor dies down and the people who SHOULD not be penalized for vaping (former smokers) are good and taxed, and sinned up, and driven out of society, it should all be good.

And teens will continue to vape..

The cake is a lie, teen epidemic of vape is a lie, the government is doing what it always DOES, lie and act out.

I swear to God this government has me riled up. It's like living through your parents hypocrisy freaking ALL OVER again only they have tanks, spies, guns and bombs. It's unpleasant.

Anna

 

[United States]

Don't hold back..... Tell us how you really feel.


To me, the real epidemic is the use of the word epidemic.....

 

[Baditude]

Two New Studies Discredit The CDC's Dire Warnings About E-Cigarettes And Teenagers

 

[MacTechVpr]

There is an epidemic called "the government's need to tax." It is that, and that only we should be fighting against.

Yes! Emphatically yes! It is this irrational addiction to drawing against the property and labor of unborn future generations that is totally abhorrently insane.

We condone the perfidy of an unproven postulated harm to children while bureaucratic snake oil salesmen certainly accomplish it through stealth and grift in their unrepresented absence. And we dare to call this government? No one with the use of reason could credibly argue to support this for one minute longer.

IT IS at the heart of the problem we are having here.

It's not even the arrogant unlawful manner of correlation of things like tobacco, a commodity, and nicotine, a chemistry, but that they justify this assault to voraciously partake of the value of others before it's even been produced.

There is a simple definition for this…slavery.

No one is modeling our children's safety but their financial liability.

We can claim to not be a party to this; but, we are certainly responsible for it.


Good luck.

 

[AttyPops]

The cake is a lie

 

[Baditude]

There is an epidemic called "the government's need to tax." It is that, and that only we should be fighting against.

IT IS at the heart of the problem we are having here.

It's not even the arrogant unlawful manner of correlation of things like tobacco, a commodity, and nicotine, a chemistry, but that they justify this assault to voraciously partake of the value of others before it's even been produced.

Although this may be part of the issue, I don't consider it to be the primary one concerning the vaping industry VS. the FDA. If it all had to do with just tax money for the government, the government could easily just put a "sin tax" on on e-cigs like they do with other tobacco products.

The primary issue here as I see it is the FDA is protecting the financial interests of Big Tobacco and Big Pharma, and therefore indirectly protecting the financial interests of the FDA since it is "in bed" with those two and deeply indebted to their financial support for their very existance. All of the former and current heads of the FDA have had past ties with one or the other and have directed the agency's modus operandi to strangle the vaping industry.

 

[papergoblin]

This all goes on parents, when kids are buying online. If they'd not give their little "angels" credit cards and bank cards or actually check on what the kids are doing with the money, it could stop this. If kids under legal age are caught with stuff, how about arresting them for breaking the law. Then look into how they got it, if they used a cc, get on the parents for not being a parent. If stores are selling to underage people (face to face) , shut the store down. It's not that hard to stop the "epidemic", but we for some reason quit holding people accountable for their actions.

We have to quit calling them kids or children. These are young adults breaking the law and getting a free pass, cause they're just "kids", I call bs. We want to teach the young responsibility, so they will mature into responsible citizens, right? Well let's begin with the responsibility of following the rules and what happens when you don't.

Take a hard line on this stuff and it slows down. Put the accountability where it goes, not on everyone else. I don't blame car makers for fast colorful cars, but I guess if a teenager steals one and wrecks it, it's the car makers fault. The car maker just tempted the poor child too much, right?

To me this is just stupidity at it's finest, this is why the US places last among other countries. Kids are growing up without being able to understand personal responsibility and/or self reliance. We are becoming a country of it isn't my fault, don't blame me, you're hurting my feelings......where's my safe space.

 

[CMD-Ky]

I agree with the entire entire post. But the three sentences below particularly I like, agree with and wish more thought this way; we don't know if it is not dangerous. We may hope, think, believe but as for knowing we don't. I would have preferred the term "risk reduction" as opposed to "harm reduction". Vaping is simply too new.

The problem we have with vaping is that we don't know the long-term impact yet. So optimists that we nic users are, we like to pretend it isn't dangerous...and the kids think that too. That may be incorrect.

 

[Letitia]

I'm not crazy about the thought of arresting teens for purchasing vape related items. I am 100% for parents stepping up and providing serious consequences and sticking to it. 30 days spent in a room with nothing but a pillow, blanket, and a stack of books makes an impact.

 

[CMD-Ky]

You radical, personal responsibility? So nineteenth century. What we need and the government will give us is "village responsibility".
Somehow, I think that the exponential growth of the DSM over the last twenty-five years fits in here with the diminution of personal responsibility.

This all goes on parents, when kids are buying online. If they'd not give their little "angels" credit cards and bank cards or actually check on what the kids are doing with the money, it could stop this. If kids under legal age are caught with stuff, how about arresting them for breaking the law. Then look into how they got it, if they used a cc, get on the parents for not being a parent. If stores are selling to underage people (face to face) , shut the store down. It's not that hard to stop the "epidemic", but we for some reason quit holding people accountable for their actions.

We have to quit calling them kids or children. These are young adults breaking the law and getting a free pass, cause they're just "kids", I call bs. We want to teach the young responsibility, so they will mature into responsible citizens, right? Well let's begin with the responsibility of following the rules and what happens when you don't.

Take a hard line on this stuff and it slows down. Put the accountability where it goes, not on everyone else. I don't blame car makers for fast colorful cars, but I guess if a teenager steals one and wrecks it, it's the car makers fault. The car maker just tempted the poor child too much, right?

To me this is just stupidity at it's finest, this is why the US places last among other countries. Kids are growing up without being able to understand personal responsibility and/or self reliance. We are becoming a country of it isn't my fault, don't blame me, you're hurting my feelings......where's my safe space.

 

[CMD-Ky]

I'm not crazy about the thought of arresting teens for purchasing vape related items. I am 100% for parents stepping up and providing serious consequences and sticking to it. 30 days spent in a room with nothing but a pillow, blanket, and a stack of books makes an impact.

You do that and I will call child protective services.

 

[Letitia]

You do that and I will call child protective services.

Go right ahead, they can be grounded with the grouchy brat.

 

[Letitia]

You radical, personal responsibility? So nineteenth century. What we need and the government will give us is "village responsibility".
Somehow, I think that the exponential growth of the DSM over the last twenty-five years fits in here with the diminution of personal responsibility.

I do agree with this but honestly it would be hard for many to find a balanced compromise.

 

[CMD-Ky]

I do agree with this but honestly it would be hard for many to find a balanced compromise.

Do tell anyone on here because I would like to keep this a secret but I don't seek a balanced compromise, I want the defeat of the nanny state.

 

[Letitia]

Do tell anyone on here because I would like to keep this a secret but I don't seek a balanced compromise, I want the defeat of the nanny state.

Me too but we've let them go too far already. I doubt anything more than compromise is attainable at this stage. America is becoming a nation of sheep.

 

[Rossum]

If it all had to do with just tax money for the government, the government could easily just put a "sin tax" on on e-cigs like they do with other tobacco products.

How do you tax something to the tune of thousands of dollars per user per year when for less than $1000, a person could buy a round-trip ticket to China or India, where he could buy a liter of nic (at concentrations were can only mention "in passing"), put it in a liquor bottle, and bring it home?

Customs won't bat at eyelash an a single bottle of booze. I know this because I'm regularly gifted bottles of booze by my distributors from eastern Europe when we have the bi-annual meeting at a trade show I just got back from.

Anyway, that one bottle of nic (at concentrations were can only mention "in passing") is pretty much a lifetime supply for the average vaper. Early on, that was my "Plan B" if the FDA should the FDA kill off the supply of nic before I had enough stocked in my freezer..

 

[papergoblin]

I'm not crazy about the thought of arresting teens for purchasing vape related items. I am 100% for parents stepping up and providing serious consequences and sticking to it. 30 days spent in a room with nothing but a pillow, blanket, and a stack of books makes an impact.

Not being rude, but why not? We arrest and/or fine adults that break the law, why not do the same for a person that walks into a store knowingly to do something illegal. Same way with going online to purchase something, knowing they are committing fraud.

To me a crime is a crime, period. Now I'm not saying lock a kid up for any certain time. I am saying arrest them, take them to a detention center and have their parent(s) pick them up. This lets them know it's serious and removes the parent's "I didn't know" excuse from that point on.

Then if it continues with said adolescent, start adding community service and such. Take away their free time or something, just don't make it a small fine that really doesn't show them a consequence for an action. A fine only punishes the parent, who may(or not) be doing the best they actually can.

 

[Letitia]

I would not advocate a record following a teen around unless the offense was of a violent or destructive nature. Those records aren't as "sealed" as one would think. Besides the still an idiot teen would blab it all over fb.

 

[Rossum]

To me a crime is a crime, period.

No victim, no crime.

 

[papergoblin]

No victim, no crime.

Well per the FDA, they're going to take vaping options away from adults (us) because kids are breaking the law. So that makes the kids committing the crime and adults (us) the victims. Now according to the FDA, the vaping community (us) is committing the crime by having flavors and the kids are the victims.