Between memes, short videos on social networks and anecdotes from teachers, underage adolescents use vapers or electronic cigarettes even in the classroom, so Infobae Mexico consulted some students to get their opinion anonymously.The boys who answered the survey range between 12 and 22 years of age, most agreed that either they or their friends began to use vapers out of curiosity or invitation and not to look for a "less harmful alternative" to smoking, In addition, they mentioned that "it helped them reduce their anxiety" and that indeed, both consumption and sale take place within various school campuses or in their surroundings.Although the first prototype of electronic cigarettes emerged in the sixties, it was not until 2003 that the pharmacist Hon Lik began to develop them as an alternative to smoking by inhaling the least amount of smoke possible, he had the idea after the death of his father from breast cancer lung.Many people started using them as a first step to quit smoking when they were already suffering from nicotine addiction and health damage from regular cigarette smoke, but 20 years after their mass marketing began, vaping poses a serious health risk in Mexico.It should be noted that on May 19, the Federal Commission for the Protection against Sanitary Risks (Cofepris) issued a maximum health alert and explained that there is no evidence that vapers are a less harmful alternative: "Their derivatives of carcinogenic compounds, substances toxic substances and emissions in the form of an aerosol represent a serious risk for those who consume it,” the statement read.The adolescents who consulted this medium were asked if they considered vapers to be equally or more harmful than regular cigarettes;more than half agreed that the effects on health are exactly the same and even recognize the pack rolls as "worse".In the words of the Undersecretary for Prevention and Health Promotion, Hugo López-Gatell, “all doses and forms of tobacco use harm health;but in addition to tobacco, vapers have other harmful substances that cause serious acute damage”.Long-term tobacco use can lead to the development of cancer in the respiratory tract, discoloration and weakening of the teeth, as well as other diseases.However, the specific use of these portable devices can produce an Electronic Cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury (EVALI), according to the Risk Statement to the population dated May 19.The substance that can cause this type of disease is vitamin E acetate. It should be noted that a study carried out and shared with health authorities by the United States Center for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC) showed the presence of vitamin E acetate in more than 35 samples of deceased people who consumed vaping devices such as electronic cigarettes.52% of vape users consulted by Infobae Mexico claimed not to know these specific damages of electronic cigarettes, vitamin E acetate can be a lung irritant, which depending on the concentration used can interfere with the normal functioning of the respiratory system adhering to lung tissue causing blood clots to form.This does not mean that cigarettes marketed in packs are healthy or that smoking in young people has increased only due to the use of vapers, but the health emergency becomes a priority when the same adolescents have found in the devices a way to "hide" a habit , making it difficult for families or authorities to protect their health.While a pack cigarette has to be consumed from start to finish -or waste it by putting it out and throwing it in the trash-;vapers can be smoked without leaving a trace, there is even the possibility of adding a fruity aroma to the nicotine, thus making it easier for minors to use it behind the back of their families or teachers."In Mexico, none of the products cataloged as vapers or similar have the health authorization of Cofepris", however, the sale of these devices is carried out through social networks to which people over 13 years of age have access or, they are bought inside or around educational establishments, according to what was expressed by more than half of those surveyed.In the question "Have you seen or do you know that your classmates smoke with electronic cigarettes/vapers?", 42% of those surveyed by this means answered that they had noticed this behavior inside schools, either in corridors, bathrooms , classrooms or patios;15% said that they had not witnessed this action and the rest reported that consumption takes place at home, on the street or outside the campus."Calming anxiety" is one of the reasons most mentioned by the adolescents who consulted Infobae Mexico, which is consistent with one of the Cofepris recommendations and would suggest that the solution to this health emergency is not simply to prohibit or criminalize the use , but attend to the symptoms of users at the level of their mental health."The best way to deal with addictions is to avoid triggering factors such as emotional, social or patterns, for this it is recommended to go to the specialists who will guide you for the best treatment", it was possible to read in the statement of this dependency on the 19th of May.