Vaping is a relatively new technology that uses aerosol to deliver various chemicals to the body, including nicotine and other addictive substances. A key aspect of vaping that is causing a massive surge in popularity, especially in teenagers, is the added flavoring to the aerosol. Although youth cigarette use has been steadily decreasing in recent years, the rocketing popularity of vaping more than makes up for it. Thus, vaping has been a topic of increasing concern, especially for schools.
On Saturday, Feb. 27, 2021, Montgomery County Public Schools hosted a virtual anti-vaping symposium via a Youtube livestream. The aim of the symposium was to inform the community of the health risks and consequences of vaping and provide solutions and procedures to prevent vaping.
First, it is important to recognize the potential causes of this dramatic increase in drug abuse, such as vaping. Many students suffer from behavioral and/or mental health issues, commonly due to toxic environments either at school or in their homes. Instead of seeking proper and adequate support, they turn to substance abuse as a harmful coping method. Addressing the welfare of students, especially their mental health, is essential to putting a stop to many harmful practices.
One of MCPS’s methods of addressing this problem is with the introduction of their new program, the Substance Use Prevention and Resiliency Education (SUPRE). This program was created as a psychoeducational substance use program in order to give students the support that they need. Another one of their core purposes is to inform both parents and students of the dangers. Becoming aware of the dangers of substance abuse along with the different support options victims is arguably is paramount for reducing the presence of drugs in the student population. This new program will hopefully bring students’ the much-needed support that many are currently missing.
Dr. Ruben Baler, a health scientist at the National Institute on Drug Abuse, gave the keynote address on drug abuse for the symposium. Numerous studies have shown that vaping has many negative effects on the human body. Vaping has also been shown to slow down neural development and lessen concentration and learning, among other harmful consequences. Finally, vaping could increase the chance of someone abusing other types of drugs as well.
If you or anyone you know is struggling with vaping or any other type of drug usage, make sure to seek proper support and help. There are a plethora of resources available to help anyone who should need it. Some of these resources are the National Institute on Drug Abuse (drugabuse.gov) and their other website more focused on drug abuse among teenagers (teens.drugabuse.gov). The truth initiative has also created a program called This Is Quitting (truthinitiative.org/thisisquitting) which aims to help young people quit vaping.
Article by Steven Wang of Montgomery Blair High School
Photo Courtesy of Pixabay