6 — Wednesday, March 4, 2020 — North Pointe
IN-DEPTH
“Breathe a better life”
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Tackling youth nicotine addiction in the school and in the social sphere By Hannah Zalewski, Farrah Fasse, Grace Cueter & Emma Sanderson MANAGING EDITOR, PAGE EDITOR & INTERNS One in four high school students have been reported as recently using a vape, according to www.npr.org. Statistically, that means 313 members of our student body could be at risk of developing a vaping-related illness. Principal Kate Murray believes that the education students are receiving about the dangers of vaping is not enough to stop it from happening. “The scientific community and the educational community are both still learning daily more about the dangerous effects of vaping,” Murray said.
“We are still in the learning process, and even if we had all of that information, I’m not sure that would be enough to stop students from trying.” Along with this, she still feels that ongoing education about the dangers of vaping is necessary during health class, parent meetings, class meetings and whenever else the information can be spread. According to www.medlineplus.com, within 2-3 hours of quitting smoking or vaping completely, withdrawal symptoms would begin to appear such as: anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, nightmares, feeling tense, headaches and difficulty concentrating. Counseling Department Chair Jennifer Sherman said that while vaping is a dangerous and unhealthy habit, students should not feel like they need to address it alone.
“Addiction is one of those issues that is too big for you to help your friend on your own,” Sherman said. “Your friend needs professional help from an expert. I would encourage you to help your friend reach out to an adult who can help.” Murray said that she hopes any student struggling with nicotine addiction knows that they can reach out to school counselors, teachers or administration for guidance. She asserts that those seeking help without being caught with e-cigarette paraphernalia would not be suspended or have police notified. However, because vaping is illegal for students, administration is required to notify the student’s parents.
