Over the past two decades, the usage of vaping has become a prevalent practice among the youth, mostly impacting teenagers and adolescents. Many students have reported witnessing peers engaging in this behavior; 64% of U.S. middle and high school students reported having observed these events, especially in school bathrooms and locker rooms where students are not monitored, according to the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey.
Due to vaping becoming such a common practice among the youth, many teachers and parents wonder why students vape and what could be the leading causes.
Mental health and drug use are both factors that have been tied closely together since most people who do take part in drug use have experienced mental health problems, with depression and anxiety being the most common.
This includes many students who may experience mental health issues due to school having to cope with the stress of getting good grades, their future plans, drama, bullying, and overwhelming workloads, which makes the presence of e-cigarettes more understandable since students rely on vaping to manage their stress and anxiety.
Seeking validation and acceptance can also be a leading factor, as most middle and high school students strive to be liked by others, which can encourage them to follow the latest trends, including vaping.
Tons of e-cigarette companies purposely advertise their products to teenagers with vibrant branding and a wide range of flavors that are used to hide the horrors that vaping could cause.
These business tactics immediately grab the attention of younger audiences since vaping is being portrayed as something that is “cool” and “fashionable”. In 2021 alone, not only high school students but also middle school students were exposed to this type of marketing from the Truth Initiative.
According to a PBS News Hour segment, most teens mistakenly believe there are no health risks.
E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is a drug known for being highly addictive and can cause negative side effects like shortness of breath, disrupting brain development, tooth decay, and increasing the risk of getting lung cancer. Even last year, the MAD students at Bethel High School conducted a mass interview amongst students, and the majority of them admitted to knowing the dangers of vaping.
Another question that has been previously asked is how students even get ahold of vapes since vapes are supposed to only be sold to people who are 21 and older.
According to an article posted by Truth Initiative, 56.9% of users get their vaping devices from social sources that include parents and friends, while 43.1% of users buy their devices from retail sources, specifically gas stations or smoke shops that fail to ID customers who are interested in buying vapes.
Many of these gas stations and smoke shops don’t even think about asking for an ID when anyone comes into the store. This is very concerning, knowing that these products are for 21+ and older, and they are being sold to minors.