The increasing prevalence of vaping, particularly among adolescents and young adults, has sparked significant research interest in its potential health implications, especially regarding mental health and addiction. This synthesis aims to chronologically highlight the progression of research on the dangers of vaping by organizing studies according to emerging questions and findings.
In early studies, concerns were primarily centered on nicotine dependence and the health risks associated with e-cigarettes. (Foulds et al., 2014) conducted a foundational study emphasizing the need for systematic data collection to understand e-cigarette use patterns and their health impacts. This study initiated a series of research questions related to user characteristics and product safety, culminating in a growing recognition of the unique health risks posed by e-cigarettes, especially among young populations (Foulds et al., 2014).
Midway through the 2010s, findings increasingly linked vaping with psychological disorders. (Becker & Rice, 2021) highlighted how vaping among adolescents correlates with mental health issues, suggesting that physical and behavioral health risks emerged alongside the rising tide of e-cigarette popularity (Becker & Rice, 2021). Furthermore, (Javed et al., 2022) underscored the connection between vaping culture and adverse mental health outcomes, specifically noting the appeal of flavored e-cigarettes to school-aged youths (Javed et al., 2022).
This period raised critical questions regarding whether e-cigarette use functioned as both a gateway to traditional smoking and a contributor to existing mental health struggles.
As research continued to evolve, the impact of vaping on both mental health and substance use behaviors became clearer. Studies like those by (Morean et al., 2015; and Becker et al., 2020) explored how e-cigarettes were used by high school students for both nicotine and cannabis, raising alarms over polysubstance use and its potential to exacerbate cognitive deficits and other mental health issues (Morean et al., 2015; Becker et al., 2020). The growth of such usage patterns provoked inquiries regarding the adequacy of current health policies and intervention strategies aimed at youth tobacco control.
By 2020 and beyond, researchers began to focus on dual vaping behaviors, assessing the interplay between nicotine and cannabis use among adolescents. (Lanza et al., 2020) reported that the prevalence of dual-use further complicated health outcomes, attributing risks such as cognitive impairment and increased substance dependence to this behavior (Lanza et al., 2020). This segment of research established critical precursors to understanding the holistic ramifications of vaping on adolescent health, emphasizing the need for nuanced public health messaging.
Current research emphasizes the role of psychological factors as significant predictors of vaping uptake and continuation. Studies by (Jongenelis et al., 2024; and Oliver et al., 2023) have demonstrated that perceptions of harm and existing mental health symptoms significantly influence both vaping intentions and behaviors among youths (Jongenelis et al., 2024; Oliver et al., 2023).
These findings have led to increased urgency in addressing vaping from a preventive health perspective, raising questions regarding the effectiveness of educational interventions and health promotion strategies within school systems (Thomas et al., 2024).
The evolution of research on vaping highlights a complex interplay between substance use, mental health, and public health implications. As vaping continues to rise among youth, ongoing studies will need to address the changing landscape of both products and user behaviors, ensuring that health initiatives effectively mitigate the risks associated with e-cigarette use. This synthesis underscores the dangers of vaping as evidenced by existing literature and encourages further exploration into tailored interventions that address the unique challenges posed by this rapidly evolving public health issue.
References
Becker, T. and Rice, T. (2021). Youth vaping: a review and update on global epidemiology, physical and behavioral health risks, and clinical considerations. European Journal of Pediatrics, 181(2), 453-462. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-021-04220-x
Becker, T., Arnold, M., Ro, V., Martin, L., & Rice, T. (2020). Systematic review of electronic cigarette use (vaping) and mental health comorbidity among adolescents and young adults. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 23(3), 415-425. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntaa171
Foulds, J., Veldheer, S., Yingst, J., Hrabovsky, S., Wilson, S., Nichols, T., … & Eissenberg, T. (2014). Development of a questionnaire for assessing dependence on electronic cigarettes among a large sample of ex-smoking e-cigarette users. Nicotine & Tobacco Research, 17(2), 186-192. https://doi.org/10.1093/ntr/ntu204
Javed, S., Usmani, S., Sarfraz, Z., Sarfraz, A., Hanif, A., Firoz, A., … & Ahmed, S. (2022). A scoping review of vaping, e-cigarettes and mental health impact: depression and suicidality. Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives, 12(3), 33-39. https://doi.org/10.55729/2000-9666.1053
Jongenelis, M., Gill, M., Lawrence, N., & Wakefield, C. (2024). Quitting intentions and behaviours among young australian e‐cigarette users. Addiction, 119(9), 1608-1615. https://doi.org/10.1111/add.16530
Lanza, H., Barrington‐Trimis, J., McConnell, R., Cho, J., Braymiller, J., Krueger, E., … & Leventhal, A. (2020). Trajectories of nicotine and cannabis vaping and polyuse from adolescence to young adulthood. Jama Network Open, 3(10), e2019181. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2020.19181
Morean, M., Kong, G., Camenga, D., Cavallo, D., & Krishnan‐Sarin, S. (2015). High school students’ use of electronic cigarettes to vaporize cannabis. Pediatrics, 136(4), 611-616. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2015-1727
Oliver, A., Kossowsky, J., Minegishi, M., Levy, S., & Weitzman, E. (2023). The association of vaping with social/emotional health and attitudes toward covid-19 mitigation measures in adolescent and young adult cohorts during the covid-19 pandemic. Substance Abuse, 44(1-2), 73-85. https://doi.org/10.1177/08897077231165860
Thomas, L., McCausland, K., Leaversuch, F., Freeman, B., Wolf, K., Leaver, T., … & Jancey, J. (2024). The school community’s role in addressing vaping: findings from qualitative research to inform pedagogy, practice and policy. Health Promotion Journal of Australia, 36(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/hpja.895