Vaping 'luring a new generation into a cycle of nicotine dependency'

Guest Editorial by Amanda Hucksoll

Health Education Specialist for Health Systems for Tobacco Free WNY

What tastes like fruit, is packaged like candy, is illegally marketed, has increased in sales by almost 50% in four years, is poorly regulated, is highly addictive, leaches heavy metals and plastics into the environment, and is produced by the most powerful industries in the world?

If you guessed e-cigarettes, or vapes, you are correct.

As a former coordinator of Reality Check – a youth-led program that fights against manipulative tobacco marketing – and now working in Health Systems Change for Tobacco Free Western New York, I’ve witnessed firsthand the powerful grip of nicotine addiction.

Disposable e-cigarettes with their sleek designs, attractive flavors, and dangerously high nicotine concentrations, are luring a new generation into a cycle of nicotine dependency. They are not just addicting youth – they are also drawing in adults who have never smoked before.

These products are not mere accidents of innovation. They are meticulously crafted by billion-dollar companies. The tobacco industry’s playbook used decades ago to promote deadly cigarettes has been revamped and updated for the vape market: attractive marketing, paid influencers, and enticing flavors like "tropical rainbow" and "sour apple ice." These tactics intentionally appeal to both young people and adults, creating lifelong customers in the process.

The data is troubling. A single disposable vape can contain the nicotine equivalent of several packs of cigarettes. I’ve seen adolescents struggle with symptoms of withdrawal, anxiety and difficulty concentrating – all rooted in their vaping habit. I’ve also encountered adults, who had never touched a cigarette, now struggling to quit vaping.

Addressing this issue is about more than protecting youth; it’s about safeguarding the health of everyone. From the teen experimenting with vaping to the adult unknowingly starting an addiction, everyone deserves a chance to live without the harmful grip of nicotine. Together, we must prioritize people over profit and ensure a healthier future for all New Yorkers.

For help quitting smoking or vaping, talk to a health care professional and contact the New York State Quitline at 1-866-697-8487 / Home – NY SmokeFree.