Modified Vape Kits Pose Risks for Teens: Study

Modified Vape Kits Pose Risks for Teens: Study

Introduction

A new report highlights the risks that teens and young adults face when modifying vape kits, altering e-cigarette devices for uses they were never designed for, such as recharging disposable pens or putting cannabis into tanks designed for nicotine and other e-juices.

Federal health officials have long warned that vaping has become a significant health epidemic among U.S. teens, with approximately 10% of high school students reporting e-cigarette use, according to data from the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey.

In a study published this month in the medical journal Pediatrics, researchers revealed that about 40% of teens and young adults in the U.S. who vape attempt to modify their e-cigarette devices in ways that may boost nicotine levels or increase the risk of severe burns or lung damage.

Teens and young adults commonly modify e-cigarettes to vape marijuana, according to researchers from the Yale School of Medicine’s Department of Psychiatry. They warn that these modifications are not recommended by manufacturers and may lead to harmful side effects.

Since vape pens emerged as an alternative to tobacco cigarettes, federal health officials have raised concerns about the risk of vape pen explosions from overheating lithium-ion batteries. These incidents have resulted in severe burns, fires, and deaths, often linked to low-quality devices or modified products.

Due to these risks, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated that all new nicotine products must go through premarket tobacco applications (PMTAs). The FDA has also provided guidance to manufacturers on making vapes safer by reducing the risk of battery explosions and preventing toxic nicotine dosing, two side effects that can result from improper modifications.

In this latest study, researchers focused on the habits of modifying e-cigarettes, known as “modding” or “hacking,” among teens and young adults. The study surveyed 1,000 teens and young adults who reported vaping in the past month. Participants answered questions about their awareness and use of vape modifications, including refilling rechargeable pods, recharging disposable pods, refilling disposable pods, rewicking, modifying liquids like changing propylene glycol or nicotine, combining nicotine liquid with cannabis liquid, and putting cannabis liquid into vapes.

The most common modifications involved refilling rechargeable cartridges or pods that were not meant to be refilled. According to the data, 40% of teens and young adults have tried refilling disposable pods, while 36% have tried recharging them. Even if they hadn’t tried it, half of the teens and young adults were aware of this modification. However, disposable pods are meant for limited use and not to be refilled. This can cause the battery to overheat, resulting in burns and higher exposure to nicotine and other chemicals.

Nearly 65% of teens and young adults said they learned how to modify vapes from their friends. Another 47% reported learning these techniques from websites and vape shops, with many participants indicating they learned the modifications at vape shops when they were still under the age of 21.

Many participants said they vape both nicotine and marijuana, with nearly one-quarter indicating that they modify their vapes to put cannabis into devices intended for nicotine. The data also showed that even when participants hadn’t tried certain modifications, they were usually aware of how to make the changes.

Teens and young adults believed that using different modifications would make the vapes less harmful or make the devices more “cool.” These modifications are often popular because they increase nicotine concentrations, making vapes more accessible and affordable.

Researchers indicate that further regulations are needed to focus on websites and vape shops to prevent the promotion of modding. They also urge manufacturers to be aware of how consumers are modifying vapes and to consider future safeguards to prevent such efforts.

In conclusion, the study highlights the significant risks associated with modifying vape devices among teens and young adults. Increased awareness, regulation, and manufacturer safeguards are essential to mitigate these dangers and protect young users from the potential harms of vaping.