The use of vapes initially emerged to help people who were trying to quit smoking, as vapes were seen as a better alternative.
But with increasing research into vaping showing that they might not be any better than smoking cigarettes, and one 20-year-old’s lungs collapsing as a result, this could be the beginning of the end of vaping.
Vaping Is Just as Bad as Smoking
Vapes were initially introduced to help people curb their smoking addictions, but they have now been found to be just as addictive as cigarettes.
The Daily Mail has also warned that as well as its addictive nature, vaping is also believed to have some serious effects on health that could all be avoided.
Vaping Can Cause Cancer
Cleveland Clinic has set out some of the dangers of vaping, ranging from addiction to cancer.
Some of the other risks include asthma and organ damage. Some vaping devices have even been known to explode, which has caused serious injuries and burns to people.
Karlee Ozkurt Got Addicted to Vaping at 15 Years Old
Karlee Ozkurt from Wisconsin first became addicted to vaping when she was just 15 years old, according to The Daily Mail.
Ozkurt said that she wanted to look “badass” and was trying to impress her peers, but that all backfired.
Karlee Ozkurt’s Lung First Collapsed in 2021
Three years on from when she first started vaping, Ozkurt began complaining of her right lung feeling like it was on fire.
After initially thinking she had just pulled a muscle, her symptoms worsened, and she ended up in the ER, where doctors told her that her right lung had collapsed.
Karlee Ozkurt’s Second Lung Collapsed One Year Later
Just a year after her first lung collapsed, Ozkurt ended up in the ER for a second time, only this time, her left lung had collapsed.
She initially tried to give up vaping after her first lung had collapsed, only to then start vaping on and off, until finally, she started vaping full-time again, leading to the second collapsed lung.
Karlee Ozkurt Might Not Make It to Her 40th Birthday
As both of her lungs had collapsed by the time she was in her early 20s, doctors believe that Ozkurt might not even make it to her 40th birthday.
This is due to her constant urge to vape, causing the collapsed lungs, and has left her with two holes in her lungs and lots of scarring.
Other Vapers Have Found Holes in Lungs
Ozkurt isn’t the only person to have a hole in her lungs as a result of vaping; a 25-year-old from Las Vegas has suffered the same fate.
The Daily Mail reported that Joseph Lawrence had been vaping for years when he suddenly started struggling to breathe. He went to the ER, and scans showed he had several holes in his lung.
Joseph Lawrence Urges Others to Stop Vaping
Taking to his X account, Lawrence urged anyone who might read his post that if they vape, they need to quit.
In the post, Lawrence included an image of himself with various wires across his body and shared that he had holes in his lungs, telling his followers, “It’s not worth it.”
Over 2 Million U.S. Teenagers Vaping
Ozkurt isn’t the only person to have started vaping as a teen, as a study by Cross River Therapy has found that over 2 million U.S. teenagers are currently using vapes.
This number includes 14.1% of high school students and 3.3% of middle school students, with 85% using flavored vapes.
Flavored Vapes More Appealing to Teenagers
The Drug and Alcohol Dependence Journal has found that teenagers are more likely to try flavored vapes over unflavored.
This study also found that if vapes lost their flavor, it would mean that the uptake of vaping would significantly decrease among teenagers in particular.
Parents Can Help Their Children Stop Vaping
If parents are concerned about their children or anyone they know vaping, the Surgeon General has outlined some guidance on how parents can talk to their children.
This includes being aware of the facts about vaping before talking to them, getting any needed support, and being prepared for some of the questions they might ask by knowing the answers beforehand.
