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 e-cigarettes are used for vaping, not all vaping devices look like e-cigarettes. So what’s so cool and trendy about vaping? We always have right and wrong paths before us — it’s up to us to decide which way we want to go. When it comes to tobacco or other harmful substances, we know deep down they’re wrong, the choice lies in our hands. But people still choose to use it. It would be logical to wonder: if cigarettes were so harmful, why were they introduced in the first place and made so easily available? It’s simple — businesses don’t run on emotions or concern for people’s well-being; they run on profits. For the corporations behind them, profit comes first and they will go to every length to lure us in. Vaping is a perfect example. It has been marketed as stylish and even harmless to both youngsters and adults. Devices are made sleek and often come with LED lights, a small screen that shows battery levels, and so on. To top it off, they don’t smell bad like cigarettes; instead, they smell like candy, fruits, mint, chocolate or coffee. Attractive, isn’t it? Especially for teenagers who don’t want to walk around smelling of tobacco. The biggest pull, however, is the flavours. E-liquids come in strawberry milkshake, bubblegum, mango ice, cola and even cotton candy. To a 13-year-old, that sounds like fun or “cool”, not harmful at all! The manufacturers know this. Even if they deny it, these flavours are designed to hook youngsters. Add to that the sad fact that celebrities and influencers show themselves vaping, and suddenly it feels like the coolest thing to do — almost like a style statement. Many youngsters believe vaping is just inhaling “harmless water vapour.” It’s not. What you’re inhaling is a cocktail of chemicals that includes nicotine (which is addictive), propylene glycol, glycerine and sometimes toxic substances like formaldehyde and acrolein. But at that age, science doesn’t feel as important as image. Right? How does vaping give that “high”? Nicotine is the main player here. When someone takes a puff, nicotine enters the bloodstream within seconds and reaches the brain. This causes a rush, a temporary feeling of relaxation, light-headedness or even a small “high.” The more you do it, the more your brain craves it. Some modern vapes pack huge amounts of nicotine, far more than a single cigarette. A small disposable vape can equal a whole pack of cigarettes in nicotine content. Imagine a 13-year-old consuming that much! The body isn’t ready, the brain isn’t ready, but addiction starts quickly. And once hooked, it’s very, very hard to walk away. What’s attracting youngsters? Although vaping is common among adults, boys are often seen with a vape pen in their hands too. And have you noticed how paan shops and vaping cafés are located close to chai dhabas and eateries? If not, notice now. This is deliberately done to lure in as many people as possible. For school kids, it often begins with friends or senior students. Unlike cigarettes, there’s no strong smell to give them away to teachers or parents. A quick puff in the bathroom or even at the back of a classroom feels easy — and harmless. Vaping is not gender-specific; both boys and girls are into it. Earlier, girls faced some hindrance because of social taboos and the unpleasant smell cigarettes left on the mouth, clothes and surroundings. But with the rise of appetising flavours, vaping has become more appealing, and girls — if not as many as boys — are now increasingly drawn to it. The reasons remain the same: to appear bold and daring, to be part of the “cool crowd,” or perhaps because it seems more refined than smoking. Another big reason is curiosity and peer pressure. At 13 or 14, fitting in matters more than almost anything. If your friends are vaping, you don’t want to be the odd one out. Saying “no” feels like risking your place in the group. The effects on the developing brain Here’s the harsh truth: nicotine messes with the wiring of a developing brain. Memory and learning: Studies show that teens who vape regularly struggle with attention in school. Imagine sitting in maths class, but your brain is more focused on the craving for your next puff. Addiction: Nicotine rewires the brain’s reward system. It trains the brain to crave that hit again and again. Kids and teenagers are already vulnerable to addiction, so it becomes easy to fall prey. Emotional health: Not having your daily dose of nicotine causes irritability, mood swings, anxiety and even depression. That’s not “just stress”; that’s chemical dependence. The lasting impact Sadly, what begins as a small “trend” in middle school can have lifelong effects: Once you get hooked on a drug or addiction, it becomes harder to resist alcohol or other substances later in life. At such a young age, if your lungs are scarred by vaping, they can never fully recover — the damage is done. On the mental health side, you may struggle to cope with daily activities because your mind keeps craving nicotine.Addiction also leads to financial strain. Many teens spend all their pocket money on vapes, even sneaking money from home. So, what can you do? If you’re a teenager reading this, here are a few simple, but powerful, steps you can take: Know the trap: Remember, vaping companies don’t care about your health. They care about your money. Every puff you take, they profit. They don’t care who lives and who dies; profit is all that matters. See through the trend: Just because it looks cool doesn’t mean it is. Real strength lies in saying “no” when everyone else says “yes.” Dare to be different. Dare to live healthily. Talk about it: If you’ve understood the dangers but your friends vape, discuss it with them. You might be surprised — many don’t want to do it but feel stuck due to peer pressure. Seek help early: If you’ve already started vaping and feel you can’t stop, don’t be ashamed to share it with someone you trust. Tell a parent, an older sibling or a school counsellor. Vaping and e-cigarettes may look like harmless fun, a way to fit in, or a sweet-smelling stress reliever. But beneath the smoke and flavours lies a dangerous truth — nicotine is reshaping young brains, pulling kids into an addiction that can haunt them for life. Schools are noticing, parents are worrying and doctors are already treating children for lung injuries that should never have happened. You don’t need a vape to look cool. You don’t need it to fit in. Think of yourself as daring enough to live freely in a world where everyone else is bound by trends. Don’t follow this one — because once you hand your control to nicotine, getting it back isn’t easy. So the next time a friend offers you a puff, think twice, and say “no.” Published in Dawn, Young World, August 23rd, 2025