In recent years, an increasing number of children in the United States have been using e-cigarettes. With the start of a new school year, educators and health experts are gearing up for the latest round in the fight against e-cigarettes.
Studies on the health effects of electronic cigarettes are still ongoing, but adverse effects are starting to emerge.
Evidence suggests that teenagers who currently use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future – a concerning finding considering the significant progress made in reducing youth smoking over the past few decades. A scientific statement from the American Heart Association warns that using e-cigarettes may increase the risk of asthma. It can also lead to respiratory diseases, arterial stiffness, high blood pressure, and sleep difficulties. Even exposure to secondhand vapor – being around someone using an e-cigarette and inhaling aerosol – may pose a risk.
These concerns are further complicated by the almost inevitable reality in the environment of young people.
In a nationwide survey conducted in 2021, almost 60% of middle and high school students reported that they tried electronic cigarettes for the first time because their friends were using them. Friends are the most common way for teenagers to become exposed to e-cigarettes. Family members are another common source.
Jackie Michalski, the assistant principal at Shenendehowa High School East in Clifton Park, New York, stated that she has observed a decrease in the number of local teenagers vaping during the 2021-2022 school year. "As people become more aware of its dangers, there is no doubt that the usage will decrease," she said.
She and her colleagues have been working to promote a continuous awareness among students to improve themselves. The school held an information lecture for parents and students, focusing on the potential health and psychological risks of using e-cigarettes and other tobacco products.
During a meeting, local law enforcement authorities suggested that parents pay attention to changes in attitude or emotions and how to spot signs of drug use in their homes. Those who use electronic cigarettes may also be thirstier and experience more nosebleeds. Or parents may detect an unfamiliar odor. Teachers also have more frequent contact with parents of students who use e-cigarettes, referring students to counselors and providing effective strategies to help parents understand addiction and aid young people in quitting smoking. Counselors see this as part of their team approach, according to Mikhaelski.
Shenendehowa High School has implemented a program in which students discover the dangers of vaping by reading news articles and watching videos on the subject, and then write a short essay detailing what they have learned and how to better handle peer pressure. "The ultimate goal is to change behavior," said Mihalski. "We want to inform students that vaping has a significant impact on health, may lead to addiction, and could potentially lead to the use of other drugs in the future.
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