“Vaping” has invaded today’s society and has impacted teens nowadays into using vapes.

“Vaping was developed and marketed as a safer alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. However, research has shown that vaping is actually more harmful than traditional cigarettes. Vaping is using flavors and advertisements that appeal to a younger demographic to target and addict them earlier,” Ms. Kristen Fendone said.  

As most people know a “Vape” or also known as a “electronic cigarette” is a device that when the liquid in it heats up it creates a vapor that you can inhale. There are different types of vaping devices that are pens, e-cigarettes, and hookahs. While vaping has been proven to be healthier than real cigarettes, it can still cause more health problems. 

“Vaping is a very serious topic and I really do think everyone should think about it as often as they can because it affects so many not just teens but also young adults. And a lot of teenagers are influenced by social media, and I do think that in their heads they think like ‘oh since this famous person is doing it, I also want to do it because it will make me cool’,” Sophomore Isabella Oliveira. 

Most teens are influenced by social media and start vaping, but on the other side most teens use it as a “coping mechanism” to relieve anxiety, and depression. Some teens start vaping during middle and high school. According to the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey, 27.5% of high school students and 10.5% of middle school students are reported to current use of an electronic cigar. 

“Most teens think that vaping can help them in some way, but it is a dangerous thing to do, because I feel like it can change someone in a whole unique way because by them having an addiction can make themselves dependent on the vaping to help them cope with their mental health and things like that,” Freshmen Gianna LaVarda said.                                  

Another reason most teens are pushed into vaping is by peer pressure done by their friends. Peer pressure is quite a common thing among teens with this kind of topic, by them thinking if their friends do it, they also must do it to be accepted. Teenagers getting into vaping even by peer pressure can cause an addiction.  

“I definitely think that it is the flavors that attracts the young audience, because vaping is an alternative for smoking a cigarette, and by puff bar having different flavors available it attracts the teens into vaping and makes it more interesting,” LaVarda said. 

When you start vaping that comes with serious consequences and health issues. Some of the dangers that vaping can cause include low brain development in teens and affect memory, concentration, learning, self-control, attention, constant mood changes, and even death. Nicotine abuse also leads to serious health issues such as chronic nicotine addiction, lung disease and damage, cardiovascular damage and increased risk for additional substance use. 

According to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) “2,807 cases of these illnesses have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The cases were reported by all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands). The illnesses have led to 68 deaths in 29 states and the District of Columbia.” 

On October 1, 2021, due to the abuse of vaping among teenagers and young adults the state of Florida changed the age limit from 18 to 21 to reduce vaping among teenagers and young adults. 

 “I don’t think that by changing the age limit to 21 did lot because I think that teens can still find ways to buy a vape and then could ask someone that they know that are older and are willing to do that for them. And some teens can even buy them online so they still can have access to a vape,” Oliveira said.