Too many becoming a “nicoteen”
October 24, 2018
By LAUREN HUEBNER
The Mirror reporter
According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, the use of e-cigarettes among teens has become an epidemic.
E-cigarettes were created to help cigarette smokers quit smoking. They provide a less harmful alternative to conventional cigarettes. The problem is many teens have seen vaping as a new cool product to try.
According to the FDA, e-cigarette use has risen from 1.5 percent to 11.7 percent of high school students from 2011 to 2017. That’s an increase of 10.2 percent in just six years.
For these reasons, Assistant Principal Brigitta Altmann-Austin believes teens should not start vaping. To prevent teens from vaping she and the other assistant principals are trying to educate both students and parents.
On Nov. 12 Stevens Point Area Senior High is hosting parent-teacher conferences. During which parents can hear from an expert on vaping.
A reason for this could be the flavors associated with e-cigarettes. In a 2013-2014 survey, 81 percent of teens specified flavors as their reason for vaping. Companies such as Juul, a leading e-cigarette producer, stated they try to stay away from fruity or sweet flavors. But Juul still offers flavors such as Mango, Fruit Medley, and Crème.
Flavors may be the reason for teens to start vaping but they continue vaping because they become addicted to the nicotine. There are about 200 puffs in a Juul pod which is the equivalent of smoking a 20 pack of cigarettes worth of nicotine.
Currently, there are no known long-term effects from vaping, however, that is because they are too new, not that there are no long-term effects.
Some public health concerns are with the vape juices because they are, so far, not regulated. Some known chemicals are acrylonitrile, acrolein, and propylene. These chemicals are known to cause or put people at a higher risk of lung diseases.
Another health concern is people inhaling the vapor. Only oxygen is supposed to go into a person’s lungs. However, people who vape are inhaling the vaporized vape juice, which can lead to a buildup of fluid in the lungs.
Soren Luther • Oct 28, 2018 at 6:52 PM
Vaping has become increasingly more popular in schools and among teens. It can be very harmful to all people, especially young kids, which is why no one should be vaping unless they are trying to quit smoking. I was astonished to see how one Juul pod compares to a pack of 20 cigarettes. It’s really crazy and scary.
Hlee • Oct 25, 2018 at 11:19 AM
I don’t know much about vaping and has only heard about it this year. Didn’t really know that THAT many teenagers vape.
Rachel Placeway • Oct 25, 2018 at 11:18 AM
I had no idea that vaping is such an issue for teens. Now that I know it is I think it’s a good idea to inform students and parents about the negatives of vaping.
Madison Rindahl • Oct 25, 2018 at 11:18 AM
Wow! This article was very well done it is important for people to know about vaping. I had no idea that 200 puffs in a juul is like smoking 20 packs of cigarettes! That is crazy.77
Aiden Price • Oct 25, 2018 at 11:10 AM
I just say, if its like smoking doesn’t do it. smoking in anyway has and will probably forever be bad, it’s sad to see that it’s increasing.
Justice Chukwuemeka • Oct 25, 2018 at 11:01 AM
Great Article! Vaping is becoming more of a serious topic in today’s world. If you want fruity flavors you could just buy the fruits and eat instead of wasting money on unhealthy junk.
Willow • Oct 25, 2018 at 10:52 AM
This is such a great article. The matter of vaping has been taken to far. I don’t understand the great thing about vaping and this article just proves how bad it is for you, especially for teens.
Bryant VanRossem • Oct 25, 2018 at 10:46 AM
I knew vaping was a big thing years ago but I didn’t know it was getting bigger. I guess its one of those things that people just turn a blind eye too when they should be concerned about what it can do. This article was well written and very informing.