Vaping among teenagers has become a widespread epidemic in schools all throughout the United States. In recent years the vaping trend has exploded out of proportion with teens smoking electronic nicotine devices such as “JUUL” and disposable pod devices.

Vaping on the rise

The numbers of students vaping each year keep spiking to record levels. An article posted by CNBC cites results from the National Youth Tobacco Survey showing that use among teens went up from 20.8% in 2018 to 27.5% in 2019.  According to CNBC, The Centers for Disease Control has reported more than 450 cases of lung-related diseases caused by the vaping devices teens smoke.

Why they do it?

The main reasons teens smoke vary from friends or family members that do it, to the appeal of fruity flavors that are marketed by the companies. There is also the belief that e-cigarettes are less harmful than tobacco products.

An anonymous junior that attends Miami High says that he started smoking because of his parents. He states that he had issues going on with them and because of it he decided to buy his first “JUUL” device and start smoking. He also said it didn’t take that much convincing for him because his parents are regular smokers, so it was easier for him to start smoking because of the smoking influences around him.

In an article posted by BBC News, it shows that vaping became a trend early on in 2011. Since then the trend exploded out of proportion, and now 1 in every 4 high school students in the United States uses some kind of e-cigarette. Sophomore Kayla Rosario thinks that vaping became trendy because of the influence rappers have on teenagers. She states that rappers make vaping seem “cool” so this influences teenagers “to think that vaping is OK, which it’s not.”

Where it leads?

Vaping can lead to other bad habits. Many teenagers that start smoking e-cigarettes are likely to start smoking regular cigarettes aswell.  Sophomore Stephanie Morales adds that teenagers who vape are more likely to get into other drugs like marijuana or pills because the sensation of vaping won’t be enough for some teenagers so they go out in search of other drugs that give them the satisfaction that vaping can’t do for them anymore.

Smoking in school  

Many predict this trend will get worse before it gets better. Freshman Ashton Florez says that because society makes people think that it’s an “OK thing”, teenagers here in Miami High and in other schools are doing it more often.  Indeed, an anonymous sophomore states that every time he walks into the bathroom, he finds someone smoking out of an e-cigarette device.

Schools, however, punish smokers if they find them. School administrator Mr. Chaine says that if any student is caught smoking within school, the device they were using to smoke with will get confiscated, the student will receive CSI for a minimum of 3 days, and a parent conference will be called to talk about the situation. If students are caught with marijuana in the school, then they will likely be arrested and sent to a juvenile detention center.

Risks of Vaping

Source: www.health.harvard.edu