Study: teens are using e-cigarettes because of 'coolness factor'
We get it, kids vape. But, the reason why they vape has remained a mystery -- until now.
A new study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal (CMAJ) has revealed the true reason teens love to vape, and its probably exactly what you would've thought.
Teenagers are using e-cigarettes because of their perceived coolness.
The research involved a survey of 2,367 9th grade students between the ages of 14 and 15 years old who were living in Ontario, Canada.
About 10 percent of the respondents admitted to using e-cigarettes, and the majority of this group—about 72 percent—revealed that they did so because the activity was considered cool, fun, or new.
As one of the paper's authors, Dr. Michael Khoury, was quoted as saying in the Toronto Star, this motivation is "really concerning because they're clearly not using them for what they're marketed as, which is as smoking cessation devices."
In fact, less than six percent of participants said they were using the device for smoking reduction or cessation.
Dr. Khoury told Motherboard that it's too early to determine if e-cigarettes promote smoking among teens who like the coolness factor, or if the tools are, in fact, a safer alternative for those already susceptible to such behaviors.
While researchers recognize that the study is limited in scope and does not prove causation, they nonetheless support "the continued development of strict regulations to reduce the use of e-cigarettes among adolescents."
Considering that multiple studies that have raised serious concerns over the safety hazards e-cigs can pose to their users -- both internal and external -- we think an age restriction is a good place to start.
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