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E-cigarettes psychologically affect adolescent minds and have grown in popularity among teens. E-cigarettes have become an increased alternative to smoking among teens. Vaping with or without nicotine has been shown to impact impulse control, especially in young adults whose brains have not fully developed. Some risks include mood disorders and permanent damage to parts of the brain responsible for memory, emotion, and critical thinking. Vaping affects the psychological makeup of all users but drastically on adolescents. Teens think e-cigarettes are “cool” because of the packaging, different flavors, and the main marketing appeal that they are healthier than smoking. As a result, how can the United States stop the e-cigarette cravings among the adolescent population in the United States? E-cigarettes appeal to the youth based on the reputation they hold which is based on peer pressure, however, the effects on the brain, physically and mentally, are detrimental and addictive.
Peer pressure plays an important role at the beginning of a path of addiction. In the article “PEER PRESSURE” by an economics professor at Stanford University Matthew O. Jackson dedicates this article to spreading economist Antoni Calvo-Armengol who died unexpectedly, teens give in to peer pressure much more than adults. They think it's okay if others follow their lead which makes them feel better about their decisions and gives them a reason to continue. There are two types of peer pressure, Jackson and Calvo-Armengol state, which are active and passive pressure. Passive pressure is the most common form of peer pressure people are guilty of, it's pressure from yourself, no one pressured you into doing anything, it was yourself. Active peer pressure is when others influence your decision by the persuasion of something you do not want to do. When people smoke and use e-cigarette devices, it is most likely due to negative peer pressure. To help a person who is experiencing either negative or positive peer pressure, they have to want to make a change.
Psychologically, the brain experiences withdrawal right after removing the substance from their lives. It can be mentally straining, and cause most people to relapse and go to rehab to learn how to live without the reliance on that substance. The National Institute of Health in the article, “Depression and Vaping”, the psychological effects of vaping on the brain can be stopped from withdrawal, however, the effects of the e-cigarette during the time of substance cannot be taken back considering brain chemical changes can’t be changed back to its previous stage before addiction and the psychological aspects as a result of e-cigarettes. Vaping affects the brain directly and will lead to serious issues psychologically and alter important roles of the brain. The limbic system in the brain is severely affected during the process of addiction, the amygdala works with aggression and fear in the brain’s central nervous system. E-cigarettes affect the brain by making people more aggressive if they have withdrawals from it since during their adolescent ages they became dependent on it and their brain wasn't able to develop as it normally should, leading the addict into a cycle of an emotional roller coaster. (Dahl, R) In his article, he states how e-cigarettes affect the emotional pathways of the brain, and Dahl talks about how AR skills include areas of the inferior and orbital prefrontal cortex that are crucial in the adolescent development of emotions and how to control them. The underaged using these substances create a dependency that feeds their addiction and starts the deep-rooted core issue, addiction into withdrawal. Most cases of addiction, when going off the substance lead to psychological breaks, and then spiral into a state of depression. In the article, “Biological Aspects of the Link between Smoking and Depression.” Nicotine releases dopamine, rewarding neurotransmitter serotonin, which is used to help someone with depression, and a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine. These neurotransmitters all are direct links to feelings and natural releases of the brain's natural reward pathways to keep us mentally happy with doing performed tasks that we feel rewarded for. When we get a good grade on a test we get a rush of dopamine, that good happy feeling, it's an addictive feeling. This addictive feeling is a feeling that can be pursued through e-cigarette devices, people strive to feel that way every day. Although these chemical signals are addictive when they are given an extra amount through e-cigarettes they lead to the brain thinking it needs the extra dopamine when it doesn’t. The brain thinks it is dependent on vaping so when it's taken the person gets depressed, angry, upset, sad, and all the feelings of being taken of something that you believe is a necessity in life. Think of it this way, someone takes all your happiness and you convince yourself there is no other way to be able again.
Biologically the brain is affected by everything people put into their bodies, good or bad. However, e-cigarette substances negatively affect the brain-altering chemical makeup. Markou in his article, “Neurobiology of Nicotine Dependence.” He claims that nicotine and weed affect the brain giving it a feeling of euphoria and enhancing cognition, within hours of first exposure to nicotine the brain experiences withdrawal. These withdrawal effects can lead to depression and irritability which are direct results of the power of nicotine. Nicotine enhances the reward value of the stimulus with the use of dopamine, making their substance of choice the “better” option than any other substance. The e-cigarette chemically changes the brain makeup portraying that it is a necessary part of their brain need, not want or reward but a large need. Mengual in his article “Nicotine and the Adolescent Brain.” exemplifies the issues of nicotine on the brain in the prefrontal cortex which is the part of the brain for decision-making, memory, attention, and problem-solving. When the prefrontal cortex is injured the user runs the risk of having attention issues as well as comprehending everyday life issues and will become dependent on the smoking product as a crutch to make up for what they are becoming deficient in. In Dani Smith's research on male mice, he found that when the young mice were exposed to nicotine the young mice were more susceptible to persistent behavioral changes since they were exposed to nicotine during a time of rapid development. In his finding, it can be linked to that since adolescent teens are using forms of e-cigarettes most containing nicotine or weed their brains are mostly affected in the area of emotions and control, the limbic system (thalamus, amygdala, hippocampus, and hypothalamus) which consists of parts that control emotions, memories, and arousal. To stop the substance from taking over the brain and permanently altering it, the substance cannot reach the buyer and user. Regulations must be met for someone to purchase an e-cigarette device, and a very in-depth background check to determine if their brain is developed enough to use the substance.
Vaping will come to an end with rehab available for everyone at little cost for drug abusers and then put strong limits on purchasing the e-cigarettes before the psychological damage has been done. Once psychological damage has been done, intense therapy can be an option to get back on track but many cases end up relapsing because of the addictive effects. Vaping must be advertised as a killer and the effects it can lead to before anyone purchases the product and starts their psychological break with addiction and then withdraws. We are only given one brain, we might as well take care of it.
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