Intro: 

Vaping has become extremely common among Gen Z, even though many of them know it can be dangerous and can cause serious health problems. It is advertised as safer than cigarettes, and the flavors and image connected to vaping make it look fun and harmless in their eyes. But research shows that vaping is not only a health problem; it also affects the mind, behavior, and lifestyle of young people. The physical risks, the mental effects, and the influence of social pressure all show that vaping has a negative impact on Gen Z. In this essay, my goal is to argue that vaping harms Gen Z by damaging their physical and psychological health, by making them ignore the risks because of attractive flavors, and by pushing them to vape for appearance and social image. 

Body 1: Negative Physical Health Risks

While electronic cigarettes (vapes) are frequently advertised or perceived as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, they negatively affect Gen Z (those born between 1997 to 2012, or Gen Z’s age range is considered around 13-28 years), with serious physical health dangers. The use of vapes by Gen Z not only has a physical impact but also a psychological effect. Those who vape are more likely to experience addiction and more easily engage in other risky behaviors, including problems with brain development, mental health issues such as anxiety and depression, and a high risk of addiction (Rainsyah et al., p.34). The Surgeon General’s Report for “E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults” presents powerful research to support it states that “nicotine products pose dangers to youth” and should not be considered safe in any form for young people (Chapter 1, p 5). Specifically, research confirms three critical physical risks associated with e-cigarette use. First, nicotine consumption during adolescence can cause “lasting harm to the developing brain.” The adolescent brain is particularly sensitive to nicotine exposure, which can result in long-term negative consequences affecting “attention, mood, and cognitive function.” Second, the inhaled aerosol itself is without any concerns, not harmless “water vapor” (p 7). It contains many components that are known to have negative health consequences, nicotine, carbonyl compounds, and volatile organic compounds (p 7). For instance, highly dangerous substances like formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, can be formed in high levels when e-liquids are heated to high temperatures in the device (p 13). The flavorings used in these products, such as diacetyl, 2,3-pentanedione, and acetoin, may not be safe for inhalation, as some are known to be associated with pulmonary toxicity (e.g., “popcorn lung disease”) (p 239). Trace levels of cancer-causing chemicals, such as tobacco-specific N-nitrosamines (TSNAs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), have also been found (chapter 5,  p 216). Third, users face severe risks related to the product itself, including “poisoning and explosive injury” (chapter 3, p 100, p 7) because e-liquids contain concentrated nicotine; ingesting these liquids can cause severe toxicity or potentially death. The recorded rate of rise in exposure to human situations involving e-cigarette devices and liquid nicotine that poison control centers reported between 2011 and 2016 illustrates this risk. Additionally, battery failures have caused severe physical harm, including reported fires and explosions (chapter 3, p 121, 100).

Body 2: Psychological & Behavioral Effects

The primary psychological consequence of e-cigarette use is the rapid development of nicotine addiction, or dependence on nicotine, which causes users to feel a strong, compulsive need for the product. According to “Elevated Nicotine Dependence Scores Among Electronic Cigarette Users at an Electronic Convention,” researchers tested using the widely used Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependency (FTND), which evaluates addiction based on self-reported usage patterns, to determine this psychological dependence. It also supports the idea that e-cigarette users are extremely dependent. The FTND calculation revealed that “The average FTND score was 5.0 (SD= 2.32),” indicating that the participants had high nicotine addiction (Johnson et al., p 166). When compared to traditional cigarette users, whose FTND values historically “range from 4.3 to 4.6,” this average score clearly highlights that vaping creates a dependence that is numerically as strong as, and is particularly stronger than, traditional smoking. In addition, researchers categorized the scores to show the seriousness of this psychological burden (Johnson et al., p. p165). A large percentage of users revealed severe addiction, as evidenced by the labeling of their total scores as either “high dependence (score = 8+, 15.4%)” or “moderate dependence (score = 5-7, 45.3%)” (Johnson et al., p 166). These results demonstrate that nicotine addiction is a strong behavioral relationship that pushes obsessive e-cigarette use rather than only a minor habit for many users.

Body 3: Advertising and Attraction (Flavors, Social Image, etc.)

E-cigarette usage, especially among Gen Z, is heavily influenced by clever marketing that highlights the sensory appeal of the products and the social image associated with them. According to “Analysis of Factors Affecting the Use of E-Cigarettes (Vapes) and Their Impact on Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Generation Z,” it powerfully illustrates how attractive advertising strategies successfully draw new users. First, the most common powerful tool companies use to attract young people is the wide range of attractive flavors. Flavors like “mint, fruit, dessert, and candy” are important to the product’s appeal because they make vaping seem interesting, fun, and harmless (Rainsyah et al., p 33). Quantitative data support this by showing that more than 80% of teenagers who use vapes are drawn to them specifically because they have fun flavor options (Rainsyah et al., p 37). Secondly, social media influence plays a big role in normalizing this behavior. Platforms like YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok shape the perceptions of young people, often making the act of vaping appear “attractive” or “normal” (Rainsyah et al., p 34). Another article, “Descriptive Study on Driving Factors of Vape Use and Lifestyle Changes Among Gen Z,” supports that their main reason to vape is “wanting to look stunning.” Vape users want to show their self-image as modern, mature, macho, dashing, brave, and different from older generations. (Ramadhan et al., p.67-68). The credibility of these influencers, based on their trustworthiness and authentic personal engagement with the products, builds on the positive perception of e-cigarettes among Gen Z. Third, advertising often promotes the “misleading perception that vaping is safe” (Rainsyah et al., p 32). And this makes them believe that e-cigarettes are safer compared to traditional cigarettes, which encourages them to try vaping.

References 

Johnson, Jona M., et al. “Elevated Nicotine Dependence Scores among Electronic Cigarette Users at an Electronic Cigarette Convention.” Journal of Community Health, vol. 43, no. 1, 2018, pp. 164–74. JSTOR, https://www.jstor.org/stable/48716594. Accessed 29 Oct. 2025.

United States. Public Health Service. Office of the Surgeon General, issuing body, and issuing body National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Office on Smoking and Health. E-Cigarette Use among Youth and Young Adults : A Report of the Surgeon General. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Office of the Surgeon General, 2016. https://cuny-cc.primo.exlibrisgroup.com/discovery/fulldisplay?docid=alma991030750846006121&context=L&vid=01CUNY_CC:CUNY_CC&lang=en&search_scope=IZ_CI_AW&adaptor=Local%20Search%20Engine&tab=Everything&query=any%2Ccontains%2Cyouth%20nicotine%20use 

Riansyah, Muhammad Haikal, and Risky Akaputra. “Analysis of Factors Affecting the Use of E-Cigarettes (Vapes) and Their Impact on Physical, Psychological, and Social Health in Generation Z.” Muhammadiyah Journal of Epidemiology 5.1 (2025): 31-43. https://jurnal.umj.ac.id/index.php/MJE/article/view/26993

Ramadhan, Fadiel, and Riky Akaputri. “Descriptive Study on Driving Factors of Vape Use and Lifestyle Changes Among Generation Z.” Muhammadiyah Journal of Epidemiology 5.1 (2025): 58-73. https://jurnal.umj.ac.id/index.php/MJE/article/view/27001