Admin combats teen vape use
States in the US have already taken action on the issue. Statewide bans have been initiated in the purple states.
As vape use has spiked in the recent years, younger and younger consumers are being attracted to these products. E-cigarettes are hand-held battery powered devices that make the users feel like they’re smoking without the burning of tobacco. While people have to be 21 in California to purchase e-cigarettes, underaged teens find ways to obtain vape devices. While using the vape device, people can have a misconception of feeling relaxed, but not necessarily in a positive way. What most people don’t know however, is that vaping can cause threatening illnesses.
“The reactions are often causing respiratory compromise which the body cannot handle even if they are one hundred percent healthy,” Trauma Nurse Practitioner at UCSD Health, Sara Couch, said. “When one’s lungs are insulted with vaping products, the lungs try and compensate, but can’t keep up. Even if they recover, this will affect their overall health for several months to years or can be permanent.”
Medical risks of vaping can be detrimental and many cases have recently been admitted to hospitals. Vaping can cause pulmonary cancer and even death. With advertisements targeting a younger audience, the reach of vape companies extends into the classrooms at high schools and middle schools across the country. There is a false view that teens cannot be negatively harmed because they are young and healthy.
“Vaping has several medical risks that are being seen in people of all ages,” Couch said. “There is poor regulation of what chemicals and heating devices are being sold and consumed. There are several brands that are coming into the market for profit. Likely the majority of these products have not been researched in medical trials to ensure safety to the consumer. The market exploded for profit and regulators couldn’t keep up.”
Because vapes are accessible to younger users, schools have had to come up with solutions to combat the situation. Using disciplinary action and informational classes, administrators in the Carlsbad Unified School District are working towards eliminating these devices’ presence on campus.
“There is a district-wide discipline plan on vaping infraction with an educational component to educate students on the dangers of vaping,” Vice Principal Redfield said. “District has a designated School Resource Officer who works collaboratively with administration with VAPE/e-cigarettes offenses.”
Multiple states have banned types of vaping, at least until they are Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved. Following suit, flavored juices have been banned as well as vape devices altogether in certain areas of the country. Although California has not initiated a statewide ban on e-cigarette products, there have been cities in California that have. San Francisco was the first major Californian city that banned all nicotine e-cigarette products.
“I feel they should be banned,” Redfield said. “They are toxic, highly addictive, release second hand smoke like an aerosol, and cause respiratory illnesses and cancer.”
Your donation will support the student journalists of Carlsbad High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
