Over the years, vaping has always been a concern in schools. Still, it is now considered one of the fastest-growing issues in America, with an increasing popularity among middle school students through high school students. The percentages are staggering, with 10.1% of high schoolers smoking and 5.4% of middle schoolers smoking.
The most popular smoking devices include E-Cigarettes, also known as vapes, as well as nicotine pouches, also known as zyn. Vaping not only has a drastic effect on the student’s physical health but also their mental health. Smoking can distract them from learning; many studies have found how addictive nicotine is. Nicotine is a form of tobacco that causes pleasure for the user for a short time. The more often you use it, the more pleasure you get from the feeling.
In the article in Truth Initiative, it stated that “many students are combating stress and anxiety, and their vaping behaviors indicate a dependence on nicotine during the school day.” Vaping has been a resource for students who are stressed educationally, and in general, turning to this, however, is even more detrimental for the students’ education and mental and emotional state.
Vaping can disrupt students’ learning abilities. Mrs. Mckay, the principal of Atlantic Highschool, said, “Addiction can of course take away from learning and it just destroys your health and causes students to skip classes which can further harm their education, as well as getting MIPT- Minors in possession tickets.” Not only that but it also has a catastrophic effect on the users health, it can cause Throat cancer and serious health problems, “these generations are well informed about the dangers of vaping yet they continue to do so,” stated McKay. McKay says there are steps that all schools can take to help lower the percentage of vaping in schools, such as installing vape detectors and working with tobacco hotlines, which can be found in Atlantic, Iowa, as well as in places surrounding your area.
To help stop vaping in your school, make sure to report any suspicious activity and to never engage in the activity yourself. Taking steps like these can help the percentage of vaping in schools decrease, benefiting everyone.
