Advertisers efforts result in a vaping pandemic

The headline reads: Number of Children Vaping Spikes 50% in a Year

Data from Great Britain shows a rise in experimental vaping in children ages 11-17 from 7.7% last year to 11.6% this year. Teens have gradually gotten more and more involved with vaping and it is not a positive move.

"I think vaping is popular because of advertisements, it comes in different fruity flavors and is a way that people use to deal with stress," said School Nurse Glenda Coffelt. She feels that the marketing behind these addictive products has played a huge role in the increased demand.

"The marketing strategies used by e-cigarette companies have been associated with the uptick in use among youth, with video advertisements on television and other electronic platforms being the most pervasive strategy," according to a report from the National Library of Medicine.

It is often said that cigarettes and vaping go hand-in-hand. Some experts argue that vapes are worse, while others feel that cigarettes are. For Coffelt, she believes that they are both unhealthy. "Nicotine is addictive and can have negative effects on brain development," said Coffelt. "Both cigarettes and vapes contain other ingredients that can have a negative impact on your body, especially your lungs."

One of the scariest aspects of vaping is the lack of knowledge students have. Because vapes are so modern, the health consequences are not yet known. "They do not know the long-term effects of vaping, but I am sure that as research continues, it will show the negative impact of long-term use," said Coffelt. "Not knowing the long-term effects of vaping can be bad."

In order to prevent continued use of vaping products, awareness is a must. The promotion behind these products has taken over the awareness aspect. "We need to continue to educate students and families about the dangers of vaping, drugs and alcohol," said Coffelt. "Another way to help prevent our younger generation from vaping is to help them develop good coping skills."

Altogether, the rise in vaping has targeted teens and as trends show, shows no sign of slowing down. It is vital that teens take the steps necessary to prevent this health concern. One of the easiest ways to achieve this is through awareness. It is as simple as talking about the subject that can help save lives, and hopefully one day, a generation.

"Anything that is new, some people want to try it and some people fight against it," said Coffelt. "Unfortunately, they have done a good job of marketing to people of all ages. "

Story by Ruby Woodson