(NewsNation) — Electronic cigarettes are causing big problems among kids in the U.S., and the small devices can result in serious outcomes.
Recently, a 22-year-old man who vaped had a double lung transplant. He had no idea vaping was bad for him, and statistics suggest most kids don’t realize how harmful e-cigs can be.
According to the Food and Drug Administration, one in four students use e-cigarettes every single day, prompting some schools to take drastic measures.
E-cigarettes have inundated America’s middle and high schools, with more than two million kids, some as young as 11, sneaking puffs in school bathrooms, hallways and even classrooms.
Some kids breathe the addictive vapors at their desks, right under their teachers’ noses. Amy Taylor, chief of community engagement at Truth Initiative, said vapes can be surprisingly hard to detect.
“We’ve heard from teachers that they do oftentimes smell minty flavors in the classroom, but they’re not sure if it’s bubble gum, mints or other,” she said. “So you see, therein lies the problem, that some of these vapes are made to look like highlighters or USB ports, and it’s confusing for teachers.”
The most popular brands are Elf Bar, Esco Bars, Vuse and Juul, all staples for students, and nine out of 10 users of e-cigarettes use flavored ones.
The brightly colored packages target kids who easily purchase the devices at vape shops, gas stations, drug stores and online.
“We saw the dramatic rise in vaping when the vapes include fruity flavors and kid-friendly flavors like cherry and grape. They’re easily accessible, and it’s become a real problem in our schools,” Taylor said.
Health studies have shown just how bad vaping can be, with e-cigs capable of dispensing higher concentrations of nicotine than tobacco cigarettes, which can be detrimental to kids’ health.
Some schools have invested millions in surveillance technology to catch kids vaping, installing sensors and cameras in a major crackdown.
The devices can be as cheap as $1,000 each, and many schools are paying for them with federal COVID emergency relief funds originally intended to help schools get through the pandemic.
But does the punishment do more harm than good?
Getting caught puffing on campus could mean students lose leadership roles on sports teams and clubs, lose scholarships, get suspended or even be fined.
“We don’t believe that suspension or penalties are the way to get us out of this public health threat,” Taylor said. “What we believe is that we should be empowering young people with the facts so they know what’s in those vapes.”
Despite federal efforts to limit the sale of e-cigs to minors, in many cases, it’s easier to buy them than tobacco cigarettes.
Dr. Rosemarie Robertson, deputy chief science and medical officer with the American Heart Association, said there isn’t enough staffing to enforce limits on vapes.
“We don’t have an army big enough of FDA, individuals and staff to stop all the shops that are springing up around our cities,” she said. “There is no place you can go that you don’t drive by multiple vape shops.”
