Vaping Prevention Week is
December 16-20 in HISD!
There is an emerging trend of vaping (e-cigarette use) among stu-dents who think it is a safer alternative to
smoking cigarettes. There are many issues with this assumption. Here are two major points to keep in mind:
* Nicotine is a highly addictive habit! It changes the brain, especial-ly when the onset of use is during adolescence, a critical window for brain growth and de-velopment. E-cigarettes and JUUL have been purposely marketed to a young audience who could become addicted at an early age. The goal for the e-cigarette companies is for the consumer to NEED their products for a lifetime. $$$$
* Vaporized Nicotine is a different danger and we do not have adequate research regarding how it effects our body over time. When using e-cigarettes, nicotine toxicity, formaldehyde and a vast array of new carcinogens go straight into the lungs. These chemicals' small size allow them to penetrate the body more deeply making them especially toxic. This can damage the cilia lining the lungs, increase the risk of asthma and COPD. Because of the highly concentrated form of nicotine, teens are getting "nic sick," experiencing nausea, headaches, lightheadedness, and vomiting. Hospitals are seeing an increase in seizures and other serious neurological symptoms, lungs collapsing, and nicotine toxicity. Scientists are beginning to believe it may be worse than cigarettes for overall health risks!
These health issues are preventable by abstaining from the use of e-cigarettes and other vaping products. #SayNoToVaping
For more information, check out the documentary, "Broken" on Netflix, episode titled, "Big Vape." It shows how vaping and JUUL had their start and how it is growing to be a public health concern.
We highly encourage parents to speak to your student about the temptation to try a vaping product.
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