The Route Makes the Poison- Inhaling Flavors with Prof. Ilona Jaspers

We think that if a flavor is safe to eat, it is safe to inhale. This is sadly not true, but many e-cigarette users, especially kids, think that if something is fruity-flavored and being sold to them, it must be safe. It is often not.

Join me in this podcast episode to hear from Professor Ilona Jaspers, PHD, of the departments of pediatrics, microbiology and immunology, environmental sciences and engineering at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She is also the director there for the curriculum in toxicology and environmental medicine. She studies a host of toxins that affect the lungs, from air pollution to inhaling flavoring chemicals.

1- If you have a young person in your life age 10 and up, listen to the first episode from the season, #DotheVapeTalk to learn about how to have these conversations. You can also go to talkaboutvaping.org  for more resources. You can learn more about what different e-cigarettes might look like here.

2- If you are struggling to quit inhaling nicotine, whether from combustible or electronic cigarettes, check out the “Quit, Don’t Switch” campaign from the American Lung Association for other resources to help quit smoking.

3- If you really don’t want to or can’t quit, and want to try an e-cigarette for potential harm reduction, in general avoid inhaling flavored ones if possible.

4- Read the “Get the Facts” guide from the ALA. If you want more details on the specifics of e-cigarette biology, listen to the “Gambling with your lungs” episode with Dr. Jeff Gotts from Season One.

5- If you want to get involved on the policy side, listen to the “A Teen Talks Vaping” episode about tobacco retail licensing and ensure there is robust tobacco retail licensing in your community.

6- For more on the dangers of flavors and their history, especially among kids and in the black community, listen to “A Heartbreaking Trap” and “A County vs Big Tobacco.” You can learn more about the specifics of flavor dangers at airhealthourhealth.org/FlavorFree.

7- Don't forget to donate to the American Lung Association, who  is working hard to help people understand how to break free of nicotine.

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