Vaping increasing in schools; non-vapors annoyed

by Linda I. and Jaylin T.

Students are currently reporting seeing people vape more and more, everyday in school. Students are vaping constantly. They're doing it in the restrooms, outside of school doors, and even in their classrooms when the teacher’s back is turned. Vaping is occurring  because of addiction, stress, or to seem cool. The vaping products sometimes contain nicotine but also more illicit substances like THC.

Student vaping is getting out of control and it's harming them, but since they’re addicted  they don't pay attention to the consequences and their abundant cognitive dissonance is interesting to observe.. 

The most interesting part of students vaping is that it's not just a vapes issue. There's a bigger issue, which is that students are beginning to act careless and go as far as bringing THC vapes, gummies, and there's even been times where students have brought alcohol. 

Some students at AHS tend to vape in class and get away with it by having the vape in their sleeve and then blowing the smoke inside of their shirt. It is interesting that they don't try to hide it as much anymore. 

One student, allowed to remain anonymous, has experienced vaping first hand and recalls, “I just want to relieve myself without having to smell flavored smoke.”

Another anonymous student at AHS says, “Don't vape because you're gonna die soon,” which implies how the student believes that vaping is very harmful and can kill you.

“If an administrator walks in and sees me in the bathroom. I’ll get caught and i didnt even do anything,” a third anonymous student from AHS explains. This student is trying to imply that innocent people can get in trouble for just being in the restroom while others are vaping.  

Some people think that vaping is bad and harmful, and understand the consequences of getting caught and how vaping can affect your life. Others dont care and believe that it's helpful because it can help them relieve stress and anxiety. 

Vaping causes a disease called “vaping associated lung injury” which is very harmful. On procon.org, an article states that researchers have also found that the people who vape have an increased amount of blood clots. Vapes can explode which can cause loss of body parts, body damage, lung damage, or even death. There's also been an increase from 3.3% to 4.6% of students who are only in middle school who vape, for highschoolers, it's been determined that in 2018 20% of students vaped but in 2020 that number increased to 50%. 

To find more information about the dangers of vaping check out, “Electronic Cigarettes” from Wikipedia.