In modern-day society, drug and alcohol companies have been exerting their influence over the youth of our country for decades. After years of targeted advertising, the teens of America have been convinced that these products are fun and safe to use, regardless of the negative effects they may have on themselves. For example, the most popular e-cigarettes have been recently found to have a potential connection to new lung diseases that springing up throughout the U.S. With these new diseases come new questions about what should be done to ensure the safety of the next generation.
The most pressing danger that’s presented with these e-cigarettes is the complete lack of substantiated research on their production and effects they can have on the body.
“I think the spread of these new lung diseases is very concerning and it’s something we’ve been trying to stress to students for years,” said Principal Kelly King of Steinbrenner high school. “There’s just not a lot of research on the effects of vaping and the different products that are in those pods.”
These diseases can easily be developed in these new products due to their lack of regulations that don’t ensure the safety of their users.
“We do know that e-cigarettes do not emit a harmless aerosol,” said Brian King, a deputy director in the Office on Smoking and Health. “It is possible that some of these cases were already occurring, but we were not picking them up.”
The companies that produce these products themselves have had to come out publicly and clarify the purpose of e-cigarettes.
“Don’t vape. Don’t use Juul,” said Juul CEO Kevin Burns. “Don’t start using nicotine if you don’t have a preexisting relationship with nicotine. Don’t use the product. You’re not our target consumer.”
Some programs have recently been put in place at local schools with the aim to help students that are in problematic situations, like Education, Prevention and Intervention Centers (EPIC).
“The purpose of EPIC is to give students who get suspended an alternative to just being suspended out of school and being at home,” said Kelly King. “It gives you another setting that’s not a traditional school site, gives you an opportunity to do your work and to hopefully reflect on the bad choices you’ve made so you won’t find yourselves there again.”
It’s important to note the priority of the school board is to always help students that could be struggling with addiction.
“We’ve got great resources with our guidance counselors, school psychologist, as well as with our social worker that can connect students with outside agencies and resources,” said Kelly King. “Our goal is not to punish and at the end we want to educate students.”
Matthew Menendez // Backpage Editor
