The solution in an e-cigarette cartridge, also known as "e-liquid," contains many different, dangerous chemicals such as nicotine, propylene glycol, formaldehyde, and toluene. Of these, the most well known is nicotine, which is also found in tobacco products. Nicotine is highly addictive, and nicotine dependence involves physical and psychological dependence. On its own, its side effects are much more minor compared to those of tobacco smoke, but it is not without adverse effects. Propylene glycol is perhaps the most common ingredient found in e-cigs. The FDA considers this substance as safe to consume in food, but when inhaled, it poses possible breathing problems. This product is an irritant to the eyes and lungs and may cause worsen asthma. Formaldehyde is commonly used to preserve corpses. Exposure to formaldehyde increases the risk of cancer. Often, the amount of this chemical in e-cigarettes is at dangerous levels. Toluene is a volatile organic compound commonly used in industry. Short term exposure can cause nausea, headaches, and fatigue. Long term exposure can cause developmental defects, central nervous system dysfunction, and respiratory tract irritation. Many of the flavorings used in e-cigarettes are recognized as food-grade and safe for consumption, but the effects of inhalation are unknown. It is very possible that these can pose a danger for e-cigarette users.

E-cigs come in a variety of flavors, including candy and dessert-flavored. Part of the reason for the boom in popularity of the e-cigarette in comparison to its counterpart, tobacco, among youth, is attributable to the many flavors that e-cigs have available. These flavors, such as "fruity," not only can be very appealing but also play a role in misleading teenagers to believe that e-cigs are less dangerous than similar products. Sweet flavors of e-cigs mimic the youth's favorite foods and play to their palate, which increases their appeal. Some teens report that they use it because "it tastes good." Of course, the role of flavors also changes adult usage. Adults tend to prefer flavors such as mint, coffee, and spice. Additionally, electronic cigarettes are often used by adults to help their smoking addiction. The popularity of this remedy to combustible cigarettes is also impacted by the flavors available. Many tobacco smokers hoping to quit start off with tobacco-flavored e-cigs and then transition to the more interesting flavors, which helps them quit their tobacco addiction. Again, the flavors of e-cigs is the major selling point.

I would say that the difference of 27% of executive positions in the marijuana industry belonging to women as compared to 23% on average worldwide is not major enough to say that "women are key (or a secret weapon) to the cannabis movement." Obviously, both men and women are and will be influencing the marijuana industry; it is important to recognize that. Not sure what the author was exactly trying to prove given the title, though I totally support women being in executive positions. Perhaps it is just my misinterpretation, but the wording of the title implies that women were completely overlooked in marketing and influence. Maybe it would have been better off just branding the article as "influential women in the marijuana industry".

I live in Las Vegas, which is infamous for its nightlife and entertainment industry around the world. So it may not come as a surprise that in Nevada, marijuana is legalized for both medical and recreational purposes. In fact, it is not uncommon to see an advertisement for marijuana dispensaries on trucks or even smack-dab in the middle of the airport. The vibe behind Las Vegas--"fun"--has even made marijuana into a tourist attraction of sorts. Now, marijuana lounges have been legalized; it is Sin City after all. I am curious how legalization will continue to change my city in the future, considering its rather unique circumstances. Personally, I do not see too many problems against legalizing marijuana. In terms of health consequences, marijuana may not be certainly worse than tobacco or alcohol; it may even have health benefits. I do not advocate the usage of drugs, but I think that in this case, individuals should have the autonomy to choose.

There is no excuse for the “tortured artist” trope. The idea of having to suffer to make beautiful art is not only damaging to artists who do not suffer from mental illness but also artists with mental illness. Art is already a field that faces great amounts of financial instability and stigma from society, so the addition of this romanticized outlook gives artists little incentive to seek help if they are believe that their job, their passion, will be threatened. But society ignoring these terrible workplace conditions and normalizing artists having mental illness, even celebrating it in a way, is unacceptable. It is a cruel and easy way to let harmful mental illness go unnoticed and untreated. What makes the narrative of a tortured creative genius so poetic, so alluring? As an artist myself, I am very upset by this. I sometimes feel pressured to draw pain instead of happiness because just drawing genuine happiness is apparently "not good enough." I personally will not pursue art as living, but I cannot help but feel sad for the many others that do. Mental illness and art should not be considered mutually inclusive.

For me, I have witnessed depression at my school, within my community, and in the people I know and love. My school is generally quite open about mental illness, and I would like to think that people who do suffer from it are supported; there are counselors and many ways to get help. My school recognizes mental illness as a struggle facing youth today. However, at the same time, I think that support within the community can improve in many ways. I have been in circumstances where I have had to comfort someone having a mental breakdown, but I admit that I was unsure how to properly help them in such a situation. I think my own experience of not knowing what to do for my friend may show that there is still something lacking in how the school and community tries to respond and help students with mental illness.

As said by the comments above, symptoms of depression are universal across all age groups. I would like to note that elders are more likely to commit suicide than younger people, yet geriatric depression is a condition that is overlooked or considered as part of aging. In terms of diagnosis, a lot of symptoms of depression are similar to symptoms of other age-related conditions, which may lead to geriatric depression going unnoticed. Other underlying medical conditions common in the elderly may also exacerbate symptoms of depression.

In treating elders with depression, who often may suffer from other medical conditions, it is important for doctors to also take those other factors into account when prescribing medicine. Elders are often more sensitive to drugs than youth, and in fact, use of SSRIs have been shown to lead to bone loss. Therefore, elderly patients taking these medications must be carefully monitored for potential negative side effects. In terms of activities, doctors may also often recommend pet therapy, art therapy, as well as more social interaction.

America is a very diverse country that gathers people from a variety of different cultures and backgrounds, so it is hard to create a generalized point of view. Perhaps not necessarily on an individual basis, but the public seems to be somewhat aware of the impact of mental illness. Compared to many other places, I think that America as a whole is much more open to conversation about mental health, but many problems remain. Among adolescents, according to the CDC, around one in five experience mental illness. Very few receive treatment. Unfortunately, a stigma still does exist around mental illness, and negative biases against those who do have mental illness pervade society. Problematic stereotypes are associated with every disorder. On a more case-by-case basis, the experience of living with a mental illness will ultimately depend on the background of the person in question. For example, for immigrants, the culture of their native country will impact their views of mental health issues. Among some communities, such as Asian-Americans, many issues will go unaddressed due to Asian views on mental health that may either trivialize or stigmatize it. In my experience, at least there is awareness and support to some extent in this country. I hope that the public becomes more knowing of the struggles and really allow people to get the treatment they need without discrimination of the mentally ill.

I believe that while media does attempt to educate and spread awareness about mental illness, it also perpetuates misunderstandings and unfortunate stereotypes. In TV shows and movies, psychological disorders are often portrayed in an extreme manner that is atypical of the general experience. The resulting stereotypes create a stigma and put distance between a "normal" person and one with mental illness. I also do not think that the media truly focuses enough on the severity of the struggle, the suffering, and the pain of mental illness. All mental illnesses are complex and affect people in different ways, but in my experience, the symptoms of the same disorder shown across different shows/movies tend to be very similar. Media is a medium wherein many of the general public get their information, but this inaccurate portrayal of mental illness is very damaging, not only to those who suffer from it but also society as a whole.