Authorities discover shocking new way teens are hiding vapes from their parents as creators 'prey' on young people
Vaping is not just smoking a pen nowadays
Callum Jones
Authorities have discovered a new way teenagers are hiding vapes from their parents after an investigation detailed how creators 'prey' on young people.
2024 findings from the US Food & Drug Administration (FDA) revealed that 1.6 million middle and high school students reported current e-cigarette usage.
This was down from 2.13 million young people the year prior, however.
That doesn't mean vaping isn't a huge problem amongst young people in the US though - so a recent investigation conducted by ABC News is incredibly useful.
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The products are not as simple as a vape pen like in the past, with the likes of backpacks, smartphone cases, highlighters and even handheld video game consoles featuring vaping mechanisms, according to authorities.
Some of them even include hidden compartments, which means teenagers can potentially vape discreetly without their parents and even teachers noticing.
Speaking to US Customs and Border Protection official Eric Everson, ABC's Linsey Davis asked: "So it's very possible the child can go, 'Hey, mom and dad, I want to get these headphones, I want to get this video console,' and the parents unwittingly are buying their child vapes?"
"That could happen, yes," the official quickly responded.
While vapes are not legal for teenagers to use, the way they are marketed makes them appealing to teenagers, according to experts.
I mean, making these products colourful is of course going to grab the attentions of children, right?
Brian King, who serves as an executive vice president for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, told ABC News: "It's a variety of factors. We do know that flavors are enticing to kids, but we also know that they're promoted in channels that can be appealing to kids, including on social media and elsewhere."
Professor Rachel Isba, who runs a service for children struggling to quit vaping in the UK, has detailed some of the worst cases she's come across.
She told The Mirror: "I'll ask them 'when you wake up in the morning, how long is it before you first use your vape'... and some children are vaping before they get out of bed, which they perhaps wouldn't do if it's a cigarette.
"It's on their bedside table with them next to their mobile phone.
"With the rise in the number of children and young people vaping and the significant uncertainty regarding the long-term impacts and potential harms in this age group, our clinic aims to provide crucial support for individuals affected by vaping."
Unlike cigarettes, vapes have not been on the market as long, so the long-term health effect of vaping remains unclear.