Teenage vaping rising hazard to health; AHS adults, teens concerned
Student vaping at Airport High School is on the rise since the mass marketing of mini pod vaping systems, raising concerns for parents and teachers due to lack of long term experimentation, FDA approval, and minimal warning signs that a teen might be using.
Vaping has developed a large appeal to the younger generation in its relatively short time. With the mass marketing of pocket sized vapes in the past year, teenage vaping and vaping on school grounds have skyrocketed. New England Journal found general e-cigarette use in teens doubled at the end of 2018.
“It’s a herd mentality,” Mr.Johnson, government and economics teacher at AHS, said. “Think for yourself!”
According to The American Lung Association, nicotine inhaled through tobacco/vaping can enter your bloodstream in 7-10 seconds, and withdrawals can occur in as little as 30 minutes after smoking. Nicotine increases adrenaline, which increases heart rate, breathing, and signaling the body to drop glucose into the blood. Nicotine has also shown to inhibit insulin production in the pancreas causing higher blood sugar, not to mention the mental dependency developed through its production of dopamine, also referred to as the reward hormone.
Popcorn lung, a disease originating in microwave popcorn factories, was discovered by workers through inhaling diacetyl, a chemical used in flavoring, it was removed after its links to death, however, more than half the e juices marketed today contain the substance, as was proven by Environmental Health Perspectives through testing. Popcorn lung is the scarring of airways, causing reduction of space for airflow, resulting in shallow breathing, pain in chest and coughing. Popcorn lung has been the death of numerous people as well as the cause for many hundred cases of irreversible lung damage, and bronchiolitis The FDA has made a three year waiting period for e cigarettes to be submitted for patent, meaning these unverified chemicals are being inhaled by millions without knowing the true cost.
”Do the research. Know what your putting in your body,” said Airport High School administrator Mr. Pumphrey. “We hope to incorporate education on the costs of vaping and smoking in the near future.”
The faculty of Airport High School acknowledge vaping as a rising disciplinary issue and are making efforts to handle it with the utmost care, as is the case with any disciplinary issue. Dealing with an addictive substance, however, makes the issue a health risk as much as a disciplinary issue.
The American Lung Association has conducted research on the prevalence on diacetyl in e-juices, as well as the actual chemicals produced by combustion of heating coils inside of vapes.
While vaping is a safer alternative to smoking cigarettes, the difference between safer, and safe, must be acknowledged. To learn more about the science of e-cigs, visit https://www.lung.org/about-us/blog/2016/07/popcorn-lung-risk-ecigs.html.
If you or someone you know is struggling with or attempting to quit nicotine addiction, the American Cancer Society has this website designed to help you: