Study shows vaping will likely increase smoking among teenagers; Are our kids safe?

A study run on teenagers in California suggests that vaping can lead to smoking. Although this is not yet scientifically proven, but since 37% of teens smoke in the US, it is more likely that vapers switch to smoking.

The Guardian reports that the study was carried on 3,000 teenagers in public high schools in Los Angeles County, California. They all had a habit of vaping and smoking.

The link between vaping and smoking is more likely to happen to those who are regular vapers.  Teens that do not vape or smoke are not at a risk of getting involved in traditional smoking.

Vaping is marked as a safe nicotine intake but some health experts warn that this habit can be a gateway to drugs.

The Christian Science Monitor has published a report that Adam Leventhal, the director of the Health, Emotion and Addiction Laboratory at the Keck School of Medicine at the University of Southern California, finds that teens are progressing to a more regular habit of smoking.

The study in California came up with horrifying results. The researchers found frequent vapers converted into regular smokers in a span of six months while occasional vapers turned to become frequent vapers.

Only two percent of the total teens who had never vaped, started smoking habit by the end of the same year.

Researchers wonder what leads the teens to opt for smoking. Some suggest that urge of nicotine forces the teens to go for cigarettes but many teens vape nicotine-free liquid, just for the flavor it!

Dr. Leventhal said that nicotine-free product can still entice teens to experiment tobacco products of other sorts, too. The health community is facing a difficult situation when it comes to vaping. One opinion goes for declaring vaping as the best mean to help the smokers quit the habit. While others maintain that nonsmokers get hooked in smoking through vaping.

FDA has put a ban on the sale of e-cigarettes to minors. The device flavored liquids and broad publicity of "harmless" factor of vaping have greater potential to attract teens towards vaping.