Teen Vaping
Dear Editor,
Parents take special note of what could be in their kid’s backpacks and pockets.
No matter what lingo you use, vaping, JUULing, or e-cigarette use in both middle and high schools has become an epidemic. Easily disguised as everyday items, these sleekly designed products are loaded with nicotine, heavy metals and other dangerous chemicals. The tobacco industry uses sweet and minty flavors to mask the metal taste and the harsh effect these chemicals can have on the body.
One common drug in 99 percent of all e-cigarettes is nicotine which is extremely addictive and is detrimental to an adolescent’s still-developing brain. Most of these products deliver massive amounts of nicotine, with one JUUL pod containing as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. The goal of the industry is to set an addiction trap for a new generation of nicotine and synthetic tobacco users.
Teens who are looking for help quitting e-cigarettes can text DITCHJUUL to 88709. Parents who are looking for support to help their child quit e-cigarette use can text QUIT to 202-899-7550.
Talk to your children about the harmful effects that e-cigarette use can have on them and the tremendous difficulty of trying to quit such a strong addiction.
Kim Huntsman
Breathe Well Coordinator