School launches effort to stop teen "vaping"

At the last school board meeting for School District 166, Assistant Principal Mitch Dorr told the school board about a new problem at schools—not just at School District 166—but schools around the nation. The troubling new trend? E-cigarettes and vaping.
 
The School District has launched an education program to increase awareness of what is considered by many to be an epidemic facing today’s youth.
 
A post on the school’s Facebook page explains, “Vaping is the act of inhaling a vapor produced by an electronic vaporize or e-cigarette.
 
“The casing can come in any shape or size, but its most popular form is the Juul, which takes its appearance as a flash drive and can be easily concealed in a backpack, coat, purse, etc.”
 
The school site goes on to explain, “The liquids that are vaporized are marketed to our youth with different flavors such as ‘cinnamon roll, marshmallow, bubblegum, lemonade and cookies’ giving the appearance that this is a harmless smoking option with limited risks.”
 
WTIP’s Rhonda Silence spoke with Assistant Principal Dorr about the situation at Cook County Schools and about how parents and community members can help with this educational effort.
 
More information is also available from the Minnesota Department of Health, here.
The U.S. Surgeon General has also provided information, here.