January 18, 2024 by Sanaiya Noisette (‘26)
A situation most students witness today is the destruction of our school’s bathrooms. They are transforming into a space for inappropriate behaviors, causing concern for students and teachers around the school. Vaping creates an unwanted toxic environment for students’ health and well-being. It becomes evident that beyond our school, similar trends are happening in our area and nation, stressing the concern even more for students’ health. What are some solutions to this epidemic?
Popular brands, like Elf Bar, for example, advertise their vapes with fun colors and flavors. Color psychology suggests that colors evoke different emotions. This helps to sell vapes such as a vibrant blue and pink vaporizer. Color, plus a sugary taste that conveys positive memories and satisfaction, contributes to addiction. This approach is harmful to users. Students love the aesthetic of the vaporizers, which is a factor in growing the vape population.
New companies think that since the classic menthol and tobacco flavors are no longer appealing to teens, there needs to be an enhancement to the already hazardous substance for companies to have a lifetime supply of customers. Flavors were the next best thing. Blue Razz, Strawberry Kiwi, and Sour Apple are popular teen flavors. The velvety vapor now leaves a lingering sweetness. It sounds delicious, but not in the long run. Do kids know what they are putting in their bodies?
Continuing on the Elf Bar path, what chemicals are the vapes pumped with? They contain nicotine and propylene glycol, making the user prone to irritation and inflammation of the lungs. Also, natural and artificial flavors can consist of diacetyl, which is known to lead to lung cancer. It doesn’t go unnoticed that nicotine is a highly addictive substance. It brings a significant issue because high schoolers are in the age range of 13-18 during the brain development years. Nicotine affects students in areas such as attention span, appetite, and mood. The substance disrupts attention span and appetite, which isn’t suitable for students’ energy levels during instruction time. Research shows that attention span decreases, but awareness and alertness increase. This can increase anxiety because of such a heightened awareness state.
Through the years, the puff count of vapes hasn’t failed to surprise people with the impressive number that keeps building. It was 500, 1000, 2000, and 3000, and gradually, their dedication continues to grow. Working up to 5000, Elfbar has reached that goal. Roughly 5000 puffs are in a single Elfbar BC5000, around 400 to 500 cigarettes. In perspective, teens can finish 20-30 packs in 1-2 weeks, packed into one vape.
Simah Herman was one of the many unlucky teens who ended up hospitalized due to vaping in 2019. Her story shares similarities with high school vapers, starting at a young age and ending up getting addicted to nicotine. On a typical day, she found it hard to breathe. Eventually, her dad ended up having to hurry her to the hospital. In short, she went into a coma and needed a ventilator to breather. It’s not something a lot of teens think about daily, but it is possible to become ill because of the devices.
Vaping, once an outlet for heavy quitting smokers, has now shamelessly converted into a trend for young adults. They are pulling kids into a lifelong addiction that’s nearly impossible to stop. The evolution is only going to continue.
What can you do to help? Offer support to friends, family, and acquaintances if the desire to quit is near. Addiction is real and doesn’t have an age limit. For schools, I would suggest addiction counseling. Punishing students isn’t as effective as getting to the root problem. Vaping in our school is out of hand. Students know designated times for when to go to the bathroom and which ones to use. Where are the monitors, and if there is a watch list. By ending this harmful habit now, we are taking a stand for our future and sending a powerful message that our generation prioritizes a healthier, smoke-free lifestyle. Act now to prioritize everyone’s health, or many will hopelessly descend into the lonely oblivion that is addiction.
Please, if you seek help, visit Quit | truth (thetruth.com).