Vape vs. Zyn

STOP. Vice Principal, Sabrina Kovacs poses destroying her most recently confiscated vape. Vaping and Zyns are becoming increasingly popular among teens and impose serious threats to their health. Photo courtesy of Colby Gateman.

If you're blowing a cloud or hitting an upper decky, it doesn't matter; you're in trouble. Vaping has been prevalent in high schools for years now, but with Zyns on the rise, teens are facing serious long term health effects. Vaping is the act of inhaling flavored vapor that contains nicotine from an e-cigarette. Zyns on the other hand, are small, flavored nicotine pouches that are placed between the gums and the lips releasing nicotine into the bloodstream. Although these two methods are very different, they both have a tight grasp on today's teens. As they become more prevalent, it is important to look at why they are popular among teens and the risks they carry. 

But why has there been such a rapid shift from vapes to Zyns? One contributing factor to this increase is the discreetness. Since teenagers feel the need to hide underage nicotine use, they may slyly pop a pouch into their gums and still receive the same effect as visibly exhaling vapor. 

Social trends also have a strong impact on teens’ choice to start using Zyns. With the popularity of social media, it is easy to make nationwide trends. If only a few people say that vaping is old and Zyns are the next new thing, social media can spread that like wildfire. The desire to be the most “current” can often create a strong culture centered around one new thing. As social media rapidly cycles through new trends, teens often feel the need to keep up in order to stay relevant.  

Not only is social media promoting Zyns, but so are big companies with strong marketing practices. Nicotine pouches, similar to vapes, are marketed to youth. Malissa Rodenburg, Researcher and Journalist at Johns Hopkins University communicates apprehensions around the marketing of Zyns,

“Experts also express concern about how easy they are to conceal and the variety of flavors offered—peppermint, coffee, and citrus, to name a few—that make them appealing to kids,” said Rodenburg in her article "Nicotine pouches are growing in popularity. Are they safe?”.

With a strong social influence and youth targeted marketing, it is easy for teens to become addicted to Zyns the same way they become addicted to vapes. 

The effects of nicotine overall are very harmful, especially to developing teens. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) notes how “nicotine may include cancer causing chemicals, heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead, and flavorings such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to serious lung disease.” Zyns specifically can cause cardiovascular issues and gum damage. These dangers on top of a growing body can lead to major implications. 

“The withdrawal effects are worse as a teenager; you’re more likely to have depression, issues with concentration, and mental health.” said Megan Bergeron, Nurse Practitioner at Vashon’s Neighborcare facility So not only is nicotine damaging physical health but also mental health. 

Dr. Hanspetersen, VHS health teacher, also feels strongly about the negative effects that nicotine has on the brain. 

“Teens' brains are still developing and are particularly sensitive to dopamine, a brain chemical that rewards you with a pleasant feeling when you do something the brain detects is good for your survival! Teen brains are developing the wiring for things that are good for them…Nicotine, alcohol, and other drugs hijack that system by triggering the release of way more dopamine than occurs from normal survival activities— eating good food, laughing, spending time with friends, etc,” said Hanspeterson.

She explains the key difference between natural and superficial dopamine and the effects that they have.

She continued, “All of that extra dopamine makes the brain prioritize the substance— when that prioritization of a substance in the brain gets wired early (during the tween teen years) there is a greater chance of developing addiction as adults. 9:10 adults who struggle with addiction, also called substance use disorder, started using substances when they were teens,”   

Hanspetersen and Bergeron both express that by delaying the use of nicotine you are less likely to be addicted later in life. 

Like many schools across the country, Vapes and Zyns are common in the Vashon School system. The hardest aspect of nicotine use in school is finding the right way to deal with it. Sabrina Kovacs, Vice Principal at VHS expresses the administrative difficulties of addressing nicotine use in school. 

“You know, is discipline the right approach?” Kovacs asked. 

A lot of times it is hard to walk the line between discipline and assistance. It may be better to aid students in getting addiction help rather than punishing them. Senior Oskar Cobbmaigetter has a different solution.

“Usually if I see a [vape] at a party sliding around, I'll probably just grab it, and let it rip either into the wall, the floor, the woods, wherever that may be, trying to save people's lives out here,” said Cobbmaigetter 

Solutions vary, whether that is punishment, help, or quitting cold turkey. However, Senior Isaac Newcomb expressed that one of the best remedies is a positive peer group. 

“I feel like it depends on what [friend] group you're in. Sometimes those friends are all going to be vaping, and if you're someone who doesn't vape, that'll make you more likely to. But I feel like in general if you’re in more of an athletic friend group, people are less likely to vape, and you'll be less likely to as well.” 

Arguably the most admirable quality of Vashon is its strong community and willingness to help. There will always be someone in the community ready to support struggling teens, such as VHS staff, friends, and our trusty Neighborcare. So the next time you go to blow that ghost or load up those gums, rethink. Nicotine will never make it better, it will only make it worse.