Researchers at Morehead State University look at vape/caffeine use among teenagers

MOREHEAD, Ky. (FOX 56) — In 2024, the CDC reported e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students in the U.S., with roughly 6% currently using the products.

More and more teenagers are increasing their caffeine intake as well.

A new study out of Morehead State University looks at the dangers of energy drink consumption along with the use of vape products among teenagers.

During the fall 2024 semester, the research team at Morehead State got data from roughly 440 students, looking at the consumption of both vape products and energy drinks, citing that oftentimes, when teenagers use one, they use the other as well.

Dr. Elizabeth Ash said many college students don’t take the time to learn about the dangers of using just one of the vape products or energy drinks, let alone both.

She said one of her colleagues works part-time in the emergency room and would see a concerning number of high school students pass through because of overconsumption.

Breaking down the data in various categories, such as gender, how active they were, whether they lived on or off campus, and even what they were studying, Ash said the research offered some interesting results.

“We did a seven-day window where we asked, within the last seven days, ‘When did you utilize whichever substance we were looking at?'” Ash explained. “But another thing that we looked at was the age that they first experimented or started using it on a regular basis. I don’t have the data in front of me, but I’m going to say for both populations, it was high school. I’m going to say between the ages of, and this is being kind of conservative, but 13 to 15.”

Ash notes the body doesn’t fully develop until a person’s mid-20s.

She also said one surprising thing was that vape usage specifically decreased during the pandemic, as students were at home and couldn’t easily get such products.

It is said teenagers should not consume more than 100 milligrams of caffeine a day, the equivalent of one cup of coffee, two cups of tea, or two to three cans of soda.

Any more than that can lead to increased anxiety, sleep problems. stomach issues, and more.

The severity of health issues can only increase the more products are consumed.

Looking at the health risks of vape products, Ash said the risk of heart attacks and seizures both goes up, and the brain’s development can be slowed down, which could lead to long-term neurological damage.

Lung damage and fertility issues are also very possible.

Ash said something not a lot of people are aware of, teenagers especially: most vape cartridges have the same amount of nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes, and most teenagers go through multiple cartridges a day.

It is these risks that have Ash and her colleagues wanting to make a change.

“We want to take what we’ve collected and utilize that information and show the importance of having education,” Ash detailed. “We need it in middle school. I think we need it. Even before high school, we needed a middle school to educate our current students, our future students. What are the dangers? What are the hazards of participating in these behaviors to them?”

Ash also said that what happens in the state legislature could have a major impact on the overall consumption of these products among teenagers.

On Jan. 1, a law went into effect here in Kentucky that limited the sale of certain vape products in the state.

The law only allows the sale of products that have a safe harbor certification based on their status with the FDA.

Very few vape pens have that, and the pens that are mainly not allowed to be sold are the disposable flavored ones, which are very popular among young people.