Many LI Parents Think Vaping Is Addictive And Unsafe: Poll

A vast majority of Long Island parents polled recently by South Nassau Communities Hospital (SNCH) think that vaping is addictive and unsafe, and many more do not want vape stores in their communities.

The information comes from the latest "Truth in Medicine" poll conducted by SNCH and sponsored by Behtpage Federal Credit Union. The poll questioned 600 parents on Long Island and in New York City who had at least one child under 18.

The poll found that 63 percent of parents think that vaping is unsafe, and a whopping 80 percent believe it is addictive. It also found that 85 percent of parents are concerned about kids' curiosity when it comes to vaping. In addition, 56 percent of parents did not want vape stores in their communities, while 32 percent were OK with them.

“Our poll shows that parents in our area believe that our kids are just as curious about vaping as they are about marijuana and alcohol,” said Dr. Aaron E. Glatt, South Nassau’s Department of Medicine chair. “No matter how it is delivered, whether by traditional cigarette or through vapor, nicotine in any form is highly addictive and can harm brain development in teenagers and young adults.”

The New York State Department of Health has said that e-cigarette use is “a major public health concern” and notes that e-cigarette use among young people is at a record high. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2018, nearly 21 percent of high school students reported that they had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days. That was up from 1.5 percent in 2011.

According to the U.S. Surgeon General, while e-cigarettes can be an effective tool to help adult smokers quit — and are a safer alternative for smokers than traditional cigarettes, which contain tar and most of the carcinogens associated with smoking — teens who use e-cigarettes are four times more likely to try regular cigarettes. E-cigarettes are electronic devices that produce an aerosol by heating a liquid, which usually contains nicotine and flavorings. E-cigarettes can also be used for vapor forms of marijuana.

“There is increasing evidence that vaping itself impacts health,” said Dr. Karen Wilson, vice-chair of Clinical and Translational Research and professor of pediatrics at Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. “They can cause respiratory irritation, and cardiovascular inflammation, and have been linked to an increased risk of myocardial infarction in adults, even when tobacco smoking is taken into account. While e-cigarettes are promoted as ‘harmless water vapor’ they are actually an aerosol that contains not only nicotine, but also other potentially harmful chemicals. The long term impacts of exposure are still unclear, especially for teenagers who are vaping in large numbers and susceptible to addiction.”

When asked which vice they believed was most dangerous for their children — marijuana, alcohol, or vaping — 58 percent of parents surveyed said that all are equally dangerous. The U.S. Surgeon General reported a 900 percent increase in vaping among middle and high schoolers between 2011 and 2015. Meanwhile, New York State’s young people are smoking traditional cigarettes at a record low.

Of the parents who responded to the poll, 22 percent said that they have vaped. It was much more likely that parents who were younger than 35 would have vape as compared to older parents.