SC among the most vaping obsessed states, new report shows. Here’s what that means for health

Many South Carolinians like vaping.

A lot.

At least, that’s what a new report shows.

South Carolina is the 8th most vaping-obsessed state, according to research by ProVape, an online vape store. The growth in vape or e-cigarette use, particularly among youth, could lead to more public health issues for South Carolina, some medical experts say.

ProVape examined Google Trends data of search terms frequently used by people interested in vaping to compile its report. These terms were then combined to determine a ranking for each state.

Despite not being the top search state for any search terms, the South Carolina population had the third highest number of searches for ‘Vape’ in the U.S. It’s population had the fifth highest number of searches for ‘Vape shop’ and the 13th highest number of searches for ‘Vaping’ and ‘Vapes.’

The report revealed that West Virginia was the state most obsessed with vaping. California was at the bottom of the list for most vaping-related Google searches.

Vapes or e-cigarettes, are electronic devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol or mix of small particles in the air. The liquid usually contains nicotine, flavorings and other chemicals that help make the aerosol. E-cigarette devices can also be used to deliver marijuana and other drugs.

Dr. William Tillis, division chief of pulmonary and critical care at Prisma Health Midlands, said e-cigarettes were first developed as a way to help cigarette users quit smoking. The product later moved into recreational use, with the idea that it was safer than smoking.

“It is less toxic to the lungs, but it is not without risk — injury to the lungs and chemicals and toxins to the lung tissue,” Tillis said. “The use of nicotine is problematic, especially in young people.”

Tillis noted that vaping has become much more attractive to younger people in recent years.

According to a youth tobacco survey by the S.C. Department of Health and Environmental Control, in 2019 30% of South Carolina high school students reported current (past 30 days) use of any kind of tobacco product. E-cigarettes were the most commonly used at 22.1%, the survey shows. And one in four South Carolina high school students reported trying JUUL, a popular brand of e-cigarettes.

Also, the survey shows that the use of e-cigarettes nearly doubled among South Carolina high school students from 2015 to 2019.

“Nicotine can have a long-term effect on people over time … in young people it can also cause problems with brain development,” Tillis said.

As you age, smoking nicotine can cause many other health issues, from lung cancer to strokes and coronary heart disease, Tillis said.

Heart disease, cancer and stroke are among the top leading causes of death in South Carolina, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention statistics show.