RESEARCH BLOG #4: RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Working Title: Social, Economic, and Environmental Aspects of Vaping among College Students

Topic: I will discuss and explore the economic and social links that attract students to vaping. This paper will answer the “why” and “how” students choose e-cigarettes and vaping. I will also explain the correlation of students of why students from different social classes choose to vape.

Research Question: How has the perception of e-cigarettes affected the social normative environment for college students? Why has the usage of e-cigarettes become a social norm and why do students choose to vape?

Theoretical Frame:

            I would like to start off discussing the toxicology of e-cigarette constituents. Overall, e-cigarettes contain ingredients such a propylene glycol and glycerol, along with the mixture of concentrated flavors and sometimes with some percentage of nicotine (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; Health and Medicine Division). In the charts that show the numbers of high school and college students that vape, done by Nicole Pesce, it was found that, “The number of college students vaping regularly also increased by 10 percentage points between 2017 and 2018” (Pesce). In addition to this, it was gathered in a University of Michigan survey that 21% of students in 2018 reported that they vaped in the last 30 days, as oppose to 9% of students in 2015. Another statistic that was noted was that younger adults in America are less likely to suggest that vaping is harmful to their health. There is an increase in usage and a correlation to perception of e-cigarettes showed that having friends that use e-cigarettes can have an influence on one’s decision to try or effectively continue vaping. These students perceive the usage of e-cigarettes as a positive impact in their social life (Wallace). Their perception is influenced by the need to “fit in” or look “cool,” as well as the flavor choices offered and the customization aspect of vaping (The Vaping Trend among Students - Pros and Cons).

            I am determined to address the economic challenges for why students choose e-cigarettes over traditional cigarettes. In a search through numerous databases, conducted by cons, it was reported that those who had a higher amount of pocket money were more likely to use e-cigarettes more often because they were able to afford these products (Perikleous). At the same time, vapes overall are expensive, but they would be cheaper in the long run. Once you purchase a decent vape pen, all you have to buy after are e-liquid cartridges (The Vaping Trend among Students - Pros and Cons). The problem with vaping is that the general population does not see why vaping is bad for an individual’s health. However, “According to the Food and Drug Administration, 81% of kids who’ve used tobacco started with a flavored product. And research has found that youth who use a nicotine-delivery product such as e-cigarettes are more likely to go on to use traditional tobacco products like cigarettes” (See). The exposure to the nicotine in these vapes are particularly harmful to individuals who start vaping before the age of 25 because the brain is not fully developed yet so this exposure can cause behavioral and cognitive impairments, which include addiction and learning challenges.

            In New Jersey specifically, e-cigarette vaping regulations include: “e-liquids may only be sold at retail by licensed specialty vapor businesses and liquid nicotine must be sold in child-resistant containers” (Public Health Law Center). However, even with such regulations and the use of electronic smoking being prohibited in public places, students are still managing to find ways to vape. The youth’s perception of vaping has shown to be worrisome as, “…vaping increases the risk a teen will smoke regular cigarettes later”(Raven). With this vaping trend on a rise, colleges are thinking of ideas of how to make students more willing to quit. Some methods include surveying students, using peer-to-peer approaches, and including e-cigarette use in campus policies (How Colleges Can Help Their Students Quit Vaping). The current environment, such as the partying and drug culture on campus, has influenced students’ decisions to try vaping. In Armstrong and Hamilton’s, Paying for the Party: How College Maintains Inequality,” they discuss how students who are on the “party pathway” at college discover they could drink and use drugs, while taking easy classes, knowing that the end of the day if they got into any trouble, their parents will help them still succeed. Because students still have this mentality that they are untouchable, and nothing can happen to them, I would like to extend the research on my paper to highlight why students of all classes choose to vape and why the possible dangers of long-term vaping should be enough of a reason for individuals to stop completely.

Cases/Example

            In August 2019, an 18-year-old student from Illinois was hospitalized after using e-cigarettes for more than a year and a half. Doctors had told him that his lungs resemble those of a 70-year-old adult (Howard). Adam, the student, admitted that he started vaping to fit in and the e-cigarette tasted good as well as gave him a little head high. However, this mysterious vaping lung illness has shown to be linked to e-cigarettes. Specifically, Pulmonary illnesses have been seen to be related to e-cigarette use. In July 2019, the Wisconsin Department of Health Services and the Illinois Department of Public Health received various cases of lung injury correlated with the use of e-cigarettes and they decided to investigate the situation. The results of the case patients showed that the early cluster lung injury was associated with the use of e-cigarettes and similar products among young and healthy individuals (Layden). If this possibility is not scary enough, it is also proven that, “Nationwide, 82% of patients hospitalized with e-cigarette or vaping, product use–associated lung injury (EVALI) reported tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing product use”( Update: Characteristics of a Nationwide Outbreak of E-Cigarette, or Vaping, Product Use–Associated Lung Injury - United States, August 2019–January 2020). These vaping illnesses have been also linked to Vitamin E Acetate, which is a sticky-like substance that clings to the lung tissue. This substance is typically used as a vitamin supplement or an item in lotions, but just because something is safe to put on your skin or to swallow, it does not mean that it is safe to inhale(Grady).