Vaping: The Importance of Discussing the Danger with your Teens.

Electronic cigarettes have many names like; e-cigs, vape pens, tank and mods, but they all have the same purpose. These devices are discreet and can resemble a pen or USB stick that delivers a toxic and addictive chemical. Electronic cigarettes were designed as an aid to help cigarette smokers reduce their use and exposure to harmful chemical. Marketing of these products may describe them as a “safe” alternative to cigarette smoking but they are not safe. E-cigarettes contain a liquid composed of toxic chemicals and nicotine that is masked with many tempting flavors. The electronic device heats the liquid, turning it into a vapor that is inhaled.

Although these devices have helped many smokers reduce their exposure to toxic chemical of traditional cigarette smoking, it has also become and epidemic amongst teens. Parents and caregivers may not be aware their teen is vaping because of the discreet device and ordorless vapors. It is crucial that teens are made aware of the harmful effects of e-cigarettes and vaping because the consequences can be life long.

The main ingredient in the liquid of e-cigarettes is tobacco. Tobacco is harmful because it contains nicotine that is sprayed with many cancer causing chemicals. When tobacco is burned, it becomes tar which sticks to the cells of the lung tissue and allows other carcinogens to build up and enter the blood stream.Other harmful chemicals in e-cigarettes is nickel, tin, lead and many others that cause cancer with exposure. When the combination of these chemicals is inhaled as a vapor it can cause breathing problems, frequent coughing, increased respiratory infections and overtime it can lead to cancer and death.

The nicotine in e-cigarettes make it highly addictive and the adolescent brain is particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of exposure. Nicotine releases a chemical in the brain that is associated with pleasure, your brain remembers this and wants more leading to an addiction. It can also increase the use of other addictive substances, reduce impulse control, lead to mood disorders and impact brain development if used before the age of 25 resulting in developmental issues.

If your teen is vaping, or you know a teen who is, discuss the serious health risk, developmental issue, addiction and irreversible affects vaping can cause. Talk to your teens health care provider if they are vaping and bring them for regular check-ups to monitor the affects of exposure to these toxic and carcinogenic chemicals.

References

Besaratinia, A. &. (2017). An opportune and unique research to evaluate the public health impact of electronic cigarettes. Cancer Causes & Control, 28(10), 1167–1171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-017-0952-5.

Douglass, B. L. (2017). Teen vaping: Time to clear the air. Contemporary Pediatrics, 34(8), 24–38. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=124595535&site=ehost-live.

FRATANTORO, M. (2019). New Wave of Vaping Restrictions Sweeps Across US, including Disney. RT: The Journal for Respiratory Care Practitioners, 32(3), 4. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=137661164&site=ehost-live.

McKeganey, N. &. (2019). Prevalence of Awareness and Use of JUUL E-cigarettes in a National Probability Sample of Adolescents in the United States. American Journal of Health Behavior, 43(3), 591–605. https://doi.org/10.5993/AJHB.43.3.13.

Prudovsky, D. (2019). Saying No to Vaping: What you should know about the dangers of e-cigarettes. Dental Assistant, 88(2), 10–11. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=135734722&site=ehost-live.

Selekman, J. (2019). Vaping: It’s All a Smokescreen. Pediatric Nursing, 45(1), 12–35. Retrieved from http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=134770943&site=ehost-live.

Medical Marijuana and Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s Disease is a progressive disease which affects movement, muscles, and speech. As time goes on, the symptoms of the disease worsen leaving the person severely debilitated. As time moves on, they are no longer able to care for themselves and remain completely dependent upon others for help with every aspect of life. These helpers become the arms, legs, and voice for the Parkinson’s patient.

Medical marijuana is the use of the marijuana plant to treat illness, chronic conditions, pain, and anxiety. There are many social media posts, blogs, and videos which show improvement of ailments with the use of medical marijuana. One condition, in particular, is Parkinson’s Disease. There remain countless videos on youtube which depict before and after footage of a Parkinson’s patient using marijuana.

In this particular video, the patient opens the door for the doctor while visibly unable to control his movements. His speech and voice are soft and trembling, and his body moves without meaning to. The doctor administers the marijuana, and after some time his movements slow, he is able to sit still, and his speech is improved. His voice is louder and more controlled, and the Parkinson’s symptoms are barely recognizable.

While there does remain evidence of medical marijuana improving symptoms associated with Parkinson’s Disease, the fact remains that there has not been enough testing on the medication to state for a fact that it will help every person, every time. The myth that medical marijuana is a miracle drug lay in the fact that this plant has not been thoroughly tested. It is not FDA approved for treatments of any condition. Any medication given to a patient must go through years of trials and approvals. Because of the state and federal government restrictions on marijuana, studies have been limited, until recently. An increasing number of states have approved the use of medical marijuana. As such, there has been more testing and studies done on marijuana as a medication. The hopes for most people is that as studies progress, and the dosage more precise, marijuana will be both safe and available for treatments of disease.

The reality remains that until marijuana is tested and the doses managed from patient to patient, marijuana as a miracle drug remains a myth. The increasing number of patients who suffer from Parkinson’s Disease using marijuana and showing a slow down in tremors and body movement only increases the awareness that this plant can help people. If Parkinson’s patients cannot achieve independence through this medication, at least they can experience times of rest.

Is Cannabis an actual medicinal substance

Cannabidiol (CBD)oil, also known as Cannabis or medical marijuana. There has been an increase in the use and research of CBD oil or medicinal purposes. CBD has been gaining popularity over the last few years. This is due to the effects it has been giving people that have used it. These people state how effective it has been on their health whether from illness such as cancer to conditions of epilepsy. CBD comes from both the Hemp plant and the Sativa plant. The Sativa carries two components the tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and the Cannabidiol. THC is the psychoactive component which gives people the “big high”. The CBD part is what is said to be medicinal. This is the portion being used for pain control, anxiety, seizures, cancer progression and much more (Welty, T.E., &

Luebke, A., 2014).

Controversies on CBD are :

Not enough research done on the CBD effects
No funding for research
CBD is stigmatized as a recreational drug
It has a psychoactive component
Conventional medication being used in its place
Still illegal at the federal level (Welty, T.E., &

Luebke, A., 2014).

some research has shown how people including children have suffered from epilepsy, with multiple seizures decreased in the amount of seizures a day and were able to continue their activities of daily living. This is just one of the many benefits CBD is said to treat, along with the relief of pain, anxiety, cancer or cancer related symptoms, etc. Although benefits are being seen, there is still a question of whether Cannabidiol Oil (CBD) is effective in treating a variety of conditions, both mental and physical.

In conclusion, the therapeutic effects of CBD seem to outweigh any adverse affects or negativity surrounding this substance. It helps with many conditions such as, inflammation, psychosis, anxiety, decreases tumors and has anticonvulsant properties (Smith, K., 2019). Although we have research done on the effects of CBD, more research is needed to confirm this.

References

Welty, T.E., Luebke, A., & Gidal, B.E. (2014, September-October). Cannabidiol:promise & pitfalls. American Epilepsy Society, 14(5):250-252. doi:10.5698/1535-7597-14.5.250

Smith,K. (2019). What is CBD oil. Environmental Nutrition. Retrieved August 18, 2019 from library.neit.edu/2216