Teens and The Dangers of E-Cigarettes and Vaping
While most people are concentrated on the legalization of marijuana use, there is another danger for teenagers in this country. News reports recently noted that over 1.3 million teens started vaping in 2018. This columnist called attention to this in one of my articles in on Health. Officials have expressed alarm at this increase in vaping among teens. They are vaping in record numbers. The danger is the amount of nicotine and other chemicals that they are taking into their system. Even students as young as those in the 8th grade are using these devices. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) define electronic cigarettes to include vape pens, pipes, cigars and other objects that are used for smoking. Students are attracted to these products by their colors and candy-like smells. A recent Spectrum news report stated that vaping is more appealing to teens. Researchers at Roswell Comprehensive Cancer Center and some schools have collected over 2,000 vapes that have sparked concern. This is equivalent to the same amount of nicotine in cigarettes according to the report, You can read the report entitled “Researchers Working to Unmask the Vaping Appeal to Teens.” It was published on June 2, 2026, at 8:29 AM.
Parents, teachers, and the general community should be concerned about this and what steps to take to Keep our young people safe and focused on learning. With all of the problems we have in our schools now we don’t need this!!
Vaping has produced an epidemic of nicotine addiction. Health officials have also pointed to the fact that African Americans are more affected by nicotine products. Nicotine can harm the development of the adolescent brain. The brain keeps developing until the age of 25. Nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. This is something that educators must take into consideration in assessing the achievement of students. It is not the only cause of problems with learning but it can be one of the causes. More research certainly needs to be conducted. However, in the meantime, schools and parents must find ways to curb vaping among middle school and high school students. Vaping can also increase the risk of future addiction to other drugs. The news reports have been reporting this problem almost on a daily basis. The first place to begin is with the education of parents and the general community about this growing problem. Churches must also get involved. The key to solving any crisis is to first inform those that are impacted by the issue. Next is doing the reading and research on the issue and then coming up with a solution. Hopefully, this article will provide some incentive for this kind of work.