MUKILTEO — A lot of teenagers think vaping is harmless.
In fact, their still-developing minds are especially vulnerable to the chemicals inside electronic cigarettes and to nicotine addiction, health officials say.
Mukilteo police plan a public forum on the topic from 6 to 7:30 p.m. May 25 at City Hall. The lead speaker is Shawneri Guzman, who works in injury prevention at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett. She will take questions from the audience.
Teens are tending to view vaping as “more socially acceptable,” she said. “They see it as more cool or fun, and they don’t really understand the dangers.”
Everyone is welcome, but parents and teenagers are especially encouraged. A vape shop is expected to open soon in the Mukilteo area. The legal age to purchase vaping supplies is 18.
Guzman is part of the Providence program that brings preserved human organs to middle and high schools. The specimens show the differences between healthy organs and those damaged by alcohol, drugs and tobacco.
At the forum, Guzman plans to display a healthy brain as well as brain scans that show the blood flow restrictions caused by nicotine. Electronic smoking products might contain formaldehyde and antifreeze, she said. The dosages aren’t regulated, and fruit, candy and dessert flavors are allowed, unlike traditional cigarettes.
Parents also need to know vaping devices aren’t always used for tobacco, she said. Cannabis and cocaine products can come in “juice” or oil forms, and the cartridges can be interchangeable.
In Snohomish County, a recent state survey found that vaping is nearly twice as common as cigarettes. One in five high school seniors said they vaped in 2016. For eighth-graders, it was about one in 17.
Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @rikkiking.
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