SVMHS striving to inform parents about vaping dangers

Every year, more people die of lung cancer than colon, breast and prostate cancers combined.

That is according to Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare, who put on a forum on Wednesday that also discussed the dangers of youth vaping.

Experts now consider vaping to be an epidemic among teenagers, and that is part of the reason why SVMHS wanted to talk with parents directly.

One Salinas man who uses vapes says the pros of vaping outweigh the cons for him.

“I get that there is always going to be some risk of cancer, there’s always going to be some ingredients in the vape juice or whatever you put in your body,” said Charles Tanner. “But I think it’s a very healthy alternative to what I used to smoke.”

Still experts says it is best not to do either, especially as lung cancer continues to take so many lives.

“But there is some benefit in transitioning your tobacco use to vaping only because so far, we think there is less risk of carcinogen exposure with vaping compared to tobacco,” said Mario J. Cole, a doctor and lung cancer specialist at SVMHS.

But Cole says there is still a risk, and among teens and young people, it can be even more dangerous.

“Nicotine is as addicting as heroine and cocaine,” said Marguerite Walker, a respiratory therapist at SVMHS.

Doctors say our brains develop all the way to age 25, and if you start vaping young, you are more likely to stay addicted. The U.S. Surgeon General’s office also says e-cigarette use among youth is strongly linked to uses of other tobacco products.

“I am aware (youth) are trying vaping in particular because there are so many different types of flavored vapes out there that are appealing to young children,” said Cole.

“When I found out about these devices that they use nowadays, you couldn’t even tell. I’m shocked that they look like USB sticks, my students all use USB sticks all the time for their computers, and I wouldn’t be able to tell which is which,” said Frauke Loewensen, a concerned resident.

That is why the hospital wanted residents to learn more about the types of devices out there. They say about 2.2 million high and middle school students nationwide have tried to vape.

They hope teaching parents will save kids from a life of addiction.

On top of addiction, the surgeon general also says vaping at a young age can harm the developing brain.