School officials are drawing more concern on the rampant usage of e-cigarettes in school campuses. Information drive on the health impact of vaping is being pushed.
Widespread vaping in US high schools
A school in Alabama removed the doors on their bathroom stalls just to stop students from hiding just to use vape. In Pennsylvania, schools installed detection sensors for vape in bathrooms, locker rooms, and corridors just to make sure no student can come sneaking to vape, students caught vaping will be fined $50 and a minimum of three days suspension.
Administrator and school officials in various high schools in the US are constantly warning students about the harmful risks of vaping, but it seems that this e-cigarette trend is yet to stop not unless higher sanctions against it will be enforced.
A second national survey shows the youth e-cigarette epidemic has gotten even worse this year.
Most alarming: 1 in 9 high school seniors (11.7%) vape nicotine on a near-daily basis — a strong sign of addiction.https://t.co/R93jXZQp56
— Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (@TobaccoFreeKids) September 19, 2019
Where did vaping start?
The very first documentation of an early e-cigarette was in 1930, patented to Joseph Robinson. No records of production or any prototype of the invention though. In the early 1990s, several new patents for nicotine inhaler devices were filed by some of the major tobacco companies and private investors. But despite the assertive push of numerous companies, the FDA denied the manufacturing of e-cigarette based on a possibility of unapproved drug delivery through the device.
It was the year 2007 that e-cigarette was introduced in the US market and quickly became patronized by the people. It started the trend of e-cigarettes and modifications of the product started to pop like mushrooms.
E-cigarette regulation
The FDA’s age regulation for e-cigarettes is still at 18 years old, but because most of these items can be purchased online where proof of age is not a requirement; many teens are gaining easier access to this product.
On several occasions, e-cigarettes confiscated from students contain prohibited substances like THC oil. THC is an active ingredient found in marijuana that is used in various medicinal purposes but not intended for body intake.
Several cases related to vaping THC oil include the risk of acquiring lung cancer. Still, no thin line between nicotine-based or THC oil causes this risk but it all came from regular use of an e-cigarette.
Sheriff’s Office busts illegal THC vape cartridge operation in north Phoenix https://t.co/8DuY1A3aPF pic.twitter.com/qsZzLHtBm1
— azfamily 3TV CBS 5 (@azfamily) September 18, 2019
The scary part that school officials worry about is that most young students are gaining access to these e-cigarettes via their senior schoolmates. In addition, social media plays a vital role in this e-cigarette trend.
Schools are being tasked to heighten their vigilance in banning e-cigarettes inside school campuses as well as producing more information drives on the harmful effects of vaping. Also, coordination with the parents and the local government helps a lot in regulating the purchase and access of e-cigarettes to minors.
