I’m worried about today’s youth. Things weren’t this bad a decade ago but, with time, technology and the constant wave of social media trends, youngsters are drifting into unhealthy habits.

One habit with multiple effects is doomscrolling, which leads to anxiety, stress, obsession with looks, cyberbullying, materialism, comparison, reduced attention spans, isolation and, of course, vaping and e-cigarettes. All this has become so widespread now that it’s hard to connect with kids who are caught up in a world they have built for themselves.

While all these unhealthy habits need to be addressed separately — because each has its own subcategories and hidden hazards leading to more and more damage — today, let’s focus on vaping, a habit that has turned into a trend, a norm and a so-called “cool thing.”

This “cool” trend is now so common that even school-going kids are impressed and influenced by the buzz. Often, children and teens are first introduced to it in their secondary school years, when friends of friends talk about it, telling stories of a friend or a cousin vaping. There are all sorts of interpretations, aspirational tales and hype that make some kids see it as a symbol of status, of being cool.

Vaping is a trap — but it’s one you can avoid. Learn the truth about this harmful trend and the useful steps to resist, quit or support friends who feel stuck

And then comes reassurance from peers: after all, it’s not a cigarette to worry about, right? That’s the misconception. These friends and cousins convince one another that it’s perfectly fine, because they are doing it themselves. Naturally, they present only the “cool” side of vaping while hiding the harm.

E-cigarettes, though not the same, are closely linked. An e-cigarette is a small, pen-like device with a battery, a heating coil and a liquid (called e-liquid or vape juice) that contains nicotine, flavours and other chemicals. When used, the liquid heats up, turns into vapour and that is what one inhales.

Vaping is the act itself — the process of inhaling vapour from any electronic device, whether it’s an e-cigarette, a vape pen, or those fancy box mods. There is a whole range of vaping devices, all handy, compact and designed to attract every type of customer, boys and girls alike. So while all........

© Dawn Young Magazine