Who would think ingesting tobacco in a fruit-flavored vapor would be a good thing? Certainly, those companies that manufacture e-cigarettes and vaping products would.
But recent cases of lung diseases linked to vaping indicate otherwise.
And worse, vaping is a trend that has caught on in a significant way with high schoolers. Yes, it is illegal, but since when has that stopped kids?
So, we are pleased that the Deerfield Police Department is encouraging students at Frontier Regional School to not vape. Their message is: Hawks don’t vape.
In fact, the slogan is printed on T-shirts bought by the Deerfield Police Association and given to students who sign a contract with school officials in which they agree not to vape and to back the anti-vaping cause.
Those who sign up get t-shirts printed with the “Hawks don’t vape” slogan. The first 100 shirts were snatched up. More are on the way. (A student caught vaping has to return the shirt.)
“Our goal with this project was to promote positive, pro-social messaging to have kids buy into recognizing the real health crisis vaping has created,” Sgt. Brian Ravish, the school resource officer at Frontier, said.
It’s no secret vaping has been pitched as a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. But then cases of lung disease connected to electronic cigarettes and vaping have been making the news.
In September, Gov. Charlie Baker ordered a four-month ban on the sale of vaping products while more research is done into the effects of vaping. A bill banning flavored vaping and tobacco products advanced Tuesday in the Massachusetts House of Representatives.
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices producing an aerosol that is inhaled. The liquid heated by the devices can contain nicotine, THC, cannabidiol (CBD), propylene glycol and other additives or flavorings.
Federal law prohibits sales to those under 18, but kids who don’t meet that cut-off can get vaping products from older friends and even online. And the industry makes them more attractive through candy and fruit flavors. Other concerns are with black market products.
Certainly, lots of statistics are available supporting the fact that vaping is a popular trend with kids, and that e-cigarettes and other vaping devices, which first appeared on the market in 2007, are making billions for companies — at the expense of children’s health.
Brands have even claimed their products can help adults quit smoking, but where are the statistics to back that up?
Dr. Fahad Alroumi, a local pulmonologist, said in a recent Recorder article that people have to pay attention to three myths about vaping: it’s harmless, it’s not addictive and only tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)-containing vapes are associated with severe lung illness.
“Traditional cigarettes were thought to be harmless at first, but we now know that tobacco remains the leading cause of preventable illness and death worldwide,” he said.
So, our hope is that “Hawks don’t vape” is a healthy habit that catches on with other area high schools.