The harmful effects of vaping are still relatively unknown to most, but research is ongoing to understand more. Clearly, vaping is a growing fad that has become popularized especially among the youth of America. According to a statement from the FDA, “Among middle and high school students, 3.62 million were current users of e-cigarettes in 2018.” 1
As a matter of fact, a survey showed that over 80% of teenage users liked the fruity or minty flavors and the lack of scent usually associated with tobacco.2 Despite the “lore” about vape safety and ease of access to these products, the risks remain. And, parents may not understand the harmful effects of vaping either. Despite all of the health warnings from the FDA, the phenomenon has taken the world by storm. And, vaping is increasing at such alarming levels that it is now beginning to overtake traditional tobacco as the top nicotine delivery method for youth.
What the Numbers Say
Let’s use the state of Minnesota findings that show vape use has increased markedly over recent years.
According to the Minnesota Department of Health, “Among Minnesota high school students, e-cigarette use is now double conventional cigarette use. Additionally, nearly 6 percent of adults currently use e-cigarettes, compared to less than 2 percent in 2010; and, nearly 13 percent of adults aged 18-24 use e-cigarettes. The use of multiple tobacco products — dual-use — is common: most adult e-cigarette users also use cigarettes.” 3
15 Years Experience by Professionals Who Understand Your Journey.
How Do Vape Products Rank as a Safer Cigarette Replacement?
Certainly, the tobacco industry, in general, has been using chemicals in its manufacturing process of regular cigarettes for decades, especially since the 1970s. For this reason, that may be why some users turn to alternatives hoping they could be safer. Vape users may not be aware that a recent Johns Hopkins study found thousands of chemicals, the vast majority of which are unidentified, in vaping products.4
The study found a pesticide, caffeine, and other chemicals (used as vape flavorings) that can cause toxic respiratory irritation. Importantly, researchers have not identified the other nearly 2000 components. The American Lung Association has also called attention to several other chemicals, namely formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, diacetyl, and more that are linked to heart and lung damage and other harmful effects of vaping.12 Specifically, the researchers noted the EU banned diacetyl, a vape flavoring chemical, as it was linked to “popcorn lung.” Popcorn lung describes a condition that severely damages the bronchioles.13 The CDC reported an outbreak of e-cigarette deaths and injuries from 2018–2019 but stopped accepting such reports in 2020 when the pandemic occurred. Before the reporting was halted, over the period 2018 and 2019, 68 deaths resulted from vaping, and over 2800 hospitalizations in 29 states occurred from acute e-cigarette respiratory damage.14
Clearly, it is not possible to say that e-cigarettes are a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes.
Notably, some manufacturers do produce organic and additive-free cigarettes. Because these producers make cigarettes without such chemicals, while they still deliver nicotine, some may feel these are less harmful products. The governmental singular strategy has been to deter smoking chemical-infused tobacco by raising taxes on cigarettes. However, regulators have not incentivized producers to make the products less saturated with chemicals. Since organic tobacco products have not been well-studied or promoted, no safety comparison to e-cigarettes or even regular cigarettes can really be made with certainty.
Owing to concerns about vaping that researchers voiced in 2022, they named a syndrome “EVALI” (e-cigarette or vaping use associated lung injury) to describe these risks. Researchers point out that lung inflammation and cytotoxicity (how toxic a substance can be to cells), hospitalizations, and deaths rank high among their concerns and their observations.11
Symptoms of Toxic Exposure Caused by Vaping
Alternative to Meds Center is an inpatient facility offering treatment for neurotoxicity, holistic treatments for mental health, and addiction recovery. Over recent years, there has been and remains a noticeable increase in patients who have a history of vaping or have experienced symptoms while vaping. Most vape liquids, whether containing nicotine or not, will subject a user to negative effects on the lungs because of the harmful irritants in the mix. In fact, the heavy metals present in many vape liquids are known to cause both mental health and physical symptoms. In particular, to individuals already suffering from a toxic burden, this can increase such risks. Toxic exposure is not limited to vaping, but observably, some symptoms associated with other sources of neurotoxin exposures may overlap those from vaping.5,6
IMPORTANT NOTE: Physicians often overlook toxic causes of psychiatric symptoms, which puts a patient at risk of a misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of toxic exposure can include the following:
Increased anxiety
Depression
Irritability
Impulsiveness
Psychoses
After industrial accidents occurred with mercury poisoning in large populations, research shows other disastrous consequences including tremors, vision disturbances like blindness and deafness, and even mental retardation, coma, and death. Heavy metals are just bad news and we should try and avoid contact with them as much as possible.7
Importantly, early in treatment, the center tests each client for toxic residues that are then cleaned out to relieve the burden on the body. Doing so eliminates their toxic effects on one’s neurochemistry.
How Heavy Metal Toxicity Contributes to Mental Health Symptoms
Heavy metal toxicity, such as mercury exposure, can lead to disturbing mental health issues. Mercury hinders the production of normal neurochemicals such as serotonin. Research has associated heavy metal or other toxicity with autism according to a study the Journal of Trace Elements published in 2020.8
Not surprisingly, at Alternative to Meds inpatient treatment center, we see hundreds of people in any given year who apparently display mental health symptoms. However, we discover a significant percentage are actually experiencing heavy metal toxicity. We know this because after the cleanse phase of the program is done, their symptoms have either greatly lessened or entirely disappeared. Many persons are not really aware of the risks of vaping until they see their test results and feel the difference after the clean-out. Our licensed team thoroughly reviews test results and provides adjunctive treatments that will aid in the neurotoxin removal process. Please take a moment to review the treatments offered at the center that support addiction recovery in holistic and effective ways.
6 symptoms seen in cases of heavy metals toxicity:
Vaping comes in both nicotine and non-nicotine versions, but another popular drug used in Vape devices is THC. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis.
In common use, a user fills a vape device with THC in a liquid form, to get high. This trend is especially popular among very young vape users and teens but older adults have popularized e-cannabis use too.
Because of rising trends, using marijuana recreationally is considered by some as likely to act as a gateway drug.9 Similarly, some believe vaping THC or nicotine as in e-cigarettes could trigger additional substance abuse and unhealthy behaviors for some users. A comprehensive study published in the 2021 Journal of Preventive Medicine explains that rising trends in vaping have accompanied similar rising trends in heavy alcohol use, binge drinking, and other types of high-risk behaviors.10
Treatment at Alternative to Meds Center
If you or a loved one suffers from vape addiction, dependency, suspected toxic exposure or symptoms of heavy-metal exposure, or other mental health concerns, please feel free to call us and ask for help and guidance. We have refined our programs over nearly 2 decades, and we have the tools to correct the situation holistically. The overall aim of Alternative to Meds Center is to help a person recover from the mental health consequences of vaping and other underlying causes of symptoms. Our beautiful inpatient facility is staffed with over 40 health professionals who are dedicated to helping others recover their most healthy, drug-free selves.
5. Mason LH, Mathews MJ, Han DY. Neuropsychiatric symptom assessments in toxic exposure. Psychiatr Clin North Am. 2013 Jun;36(2):201-8. doi: 10.1016/j.psc.2013.02.001. Epub 2013 Apr 15. PMID: 23688687. [cited 2021 Oct 12]
6. Barry J D, Willis B K, “Neurotoxic Emergencies” Psychiatr Clin N Am 36 (2013) 219–244
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.psc.2013.02.003 psych.theclinics.com 0193-953X/13/$ [cited 2021 Oct 12]
11. Park JA, Crotty Alexander LE, Christiani DC. Vaping and Lung Inflammation and Injury. Annu Rev Physiol. 2022 Feb 10;84:611-629. doi: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-061121-040014. Epub 2021 Nov 1. PMID: 34724436; PMCID: PMC10228557. [cited 2023 July 7]
14. CDC Statement for State, Local, Territorial, and Tribal Health Departments [Public health reporting EVALI cases] [archived CDC publication] [cited 2023 July 7]
This content has been reviewed and approved by a licensed physician.
Dr. Samuel Lee
Dr. Samuel Lee is a board-certified psychiatrist, specializing in a spiritually-based mental health discipline and integrative approaches. He graduated with an MD at Loma Linda University School of Medicine and did a residency in psychiatry at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and University of Washington School of Medicine in Seattle. He has also been an inpatient adult psychiatrist at Kaweah Delta Mental Health Hospital and the primary attending geriatric psychiatrist at the Auerbach Inpatient Psychiatric Jewish Home Hospital. In addition, he served as the general adult outpatient psychiatrist at Kaiser Permanente. He is board-certified in psychiatry and neurology and has a B.A. Magna Cum Laude in Religion from Pacific Union College. His specialty is in natural healing techniques that promote the body’s innate ability to heal itself.
Diane is an avid supporter and researcher of natural mental health strategies. Diane received her medical writing and science communication certification through Stanford University and has published over 3 million words on the topics of holistic health, addiction, recovery, and alternative medicine. She has proudly worked with the Alternative to Meds Center since its inception and is grateful for the opportunity to help the founding members develop this world-class center that has helped so many thousands regain natural mental health.
Medical Disclaimer: Nothing on this Website is intended to be taken as medical advice. The information provided on the website is intended to encourage, not replace, direct patient-health professional relationships. Always consult with your doctor before altering your medications. Adding nutritional supplements may alter the effect of medication. Any medication changes should be done only after proper evaluation and under medical supervision.
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The harmful effects of vaping are still relatively unknown to most, but research is ongoing to understand more. Clearly, vaping is a growing fad that has become popularized especially among the youth of America. According to a statement from the FDA, “Among middle and high school students, 3.62 million were current users of e-cigarettes in 2018.” 1
The study found a pesticide, caffeine, and other chemicals (used as vape flavorings) that can cause toxic respiratory irritation. Importantly, researchers have not identified the other nearly 2000 components. The American Lung Association has also called attention to several other chemicals, namely formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, diacetyl, and more that are linked to heart and lung damage and other harmful effects of vaping.12 Specifically, the researchers noted the EU banned diacetyl, a vape flavoring chemical, as it was linked to “popcorn lung.” Popcorn lung describes a condition that severely damages the bronchioles.13 The CDC reported an outbreak of e-cigarette deaths and injuries from 2018–2019 but stopped accepting such reports in 2020 when the pandemic occurred. Before the reporting was halted, over the period 2018 and 2019, 68 deaths resulted from vaping, and over 2800 hospitalizations in 29 states occurred from acute e-cigarette respiratory damage.14
Heavy metal toxicity, such as mercury exposure, can lead to disturbing mental health issues. Mercury hinders the production of normal neurochemicals such as serotonin. Research has associated heavy metal or other toxicity with autism according to a study the Journal of Trace Elements published in 2020.8
Vaping comes in both nicotine and non-nicotine versions, but another popular drug used in Vape devices is THC. THC is the principal psychoactive constituent of cannabis.
