“Don’t vape. Don’t use Juul.  Don’t state using nicotine if you don’t have a preexisting relationship with nicotine.  Don’t use this product. You’re not our target consumer.”– Kevin Burns, CEO of Juul, on teen usage of the Juul.

“Vaping” has become a preferable pastime for American teens in the past five years. The Juuls are now being advertised as a healthier alternative to traditional smoking. And, while companies have pushed to target those who already have an addiction to smoking, their audience was actually much larger.  

In reality, the majority of users who have taken up the habit are teenagers. The danger grows exponentially when teens begin vaping the contents in marijuana, like THC and CBD oils.

According to a survey conducted by the National Institute of Health, 37 percent of high school seniors reported to have vaped within the last year.  The study also stated that the number of seniors who vaped increased by ten percentage points since 2017.

The health implications of e-cigarettes are largely unknown due to its relatively recent arrival to the market, causing consumers to falsely believe that these devices are harmless.

More recent reports from several states are now releasing information of vaping related illness, raising concern for public health.  

Recent deaths and a sudden outbreak of vaping related hospitalizations have raised concerns over its supposed safety.  

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), over 450 possible cases of lung illness, including six deaths, have now correlated with the use of vaping products across 33 states. The most recent being in Illinois, Oregon, and Kansas after the victims developed severe lung related diseases due in part to their vaping habits.  

The only link between all of the patients is the fact that they all used vaping products that contained either nicotine or THC, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana with similar symptoms. As they arrived in the emergency room, patients’ symptoms first presented as a bad respiratory infection that did not respond to usual treatment and progressed to severe lung diseases. 

On the other hand, teens strongly believe that their vaping habits are not harming their health. The vaping companies advertise their products with different nostalgic and enticing flavors, downplaying the actual ingredients, that include the chemicals that make them addictive and could possibly cause health issues.

Ultimately, it should be no surprise that vaping has negative consequences on people’s health.  The popularity of Juul has reintroduced a harmful addiction to a new generation of Americans. Despite being advertised as having less chemicals and known carcinogens, vaping has become a lethal habit that is now beginning to claim lives.  

While the long term effects are still unknown, studies are being conducted to discover if the vaporizers and/or their contents cause chronic illness.  However, with the recent deaths and disease outbreak, people should avoid using these inhalants in their entirety. No matter how they are marketed, current vapors will always cause harm to one’s health.  

Now that the jury is out on vaping practices, this generation must curb their use to avoid long term problems in the near future.  

Letters to the Editor: 

Dear Editor,

I agree with the editorial because it is a serious issue that has unknown effects on the body.  A consumer doesn’t know what they are putting in their body.  However, I do believe if it is used correctly it can help stop preexisting addictions.

-Junior, Will Delmonte

Dear Editor,

I agree with the article and the viewpoint that it has.  I think that there is a big problem right now with vaping among younger people and it is starting to show real consequences.  I also think that right ow the term vaping is being linked to other harmful inhalants that are not nearly as abundant as regular name brand nicotine vapes.  It has been shown that the only actual deaths reported are not actually from nicotine devices, but from aftermarket THC carts.

-Senior, Parker Ensogna

Dear Editor,

I agree with your stance on the dangers of vaping and Juuling.  It is an epidemic within our high schools that needs to be addressed immediately and efficiently.  I have personally seen many cases where students skip school because of withdrawal symptoms from the nicotine.  I believe that not only we should remove vapes but offer help and services to those who are struggling with it’s addiction.

-Senior, Logan Nedelka