According to a study from Drug Watch in 2023, 24.4% of teens in Pennsylvania are currently vaping. This statistic is terrifying to acknowledge as a real problem in our state and even more terrifying to acknowledge that it is prevalent in our school.
Although the school has installed vape detectors, many students at Hershey High School can agree that vaping is still noticed around the school. The school’s staff needs to make a stronger statement regarding its Red Ribbon Spirit Week, a time to bring awareness to living drug-free and being kind to one’s own body.
Johns Hopkins Medicine has confirmed that the consequences of vaping are incredibly detrimental to one’s health and well-being. Teens who vape are statistically more likely to suffer from future lung and heart diseases, with a confirmed 2807 cases of vaping or other forms of electronic cigarettes being the source of lung injuries.
Vaping is just as addictive as regular cigarettes, if not more addictive, containing higher amounts of nicotine in the cartridges. This has led a large number of the young generation to find themselves absorbed in the addictions of vaping.
There is a lot of talk about vaping in Derry Township, even with kids in middle school allegedly being caught vaping or using other forms of abused substances, according to a variety of students from around the district. This a terrifying topic, especially since the legal vaping age is 21 years old or 18 if you are in the military, and no students anywhere in this school are in this demographic.
With Red Ribbon Week occurring in the last week of October, the school and adults in this community need to prioritize the health of the future generation; given that a lot of students who use illegal substances do not tell their parents, most are completely unaware of whether or not their student is part of the 24.4%. Additionally, most teens acquire vapes from social and commercial sources, having to secretly plot to fulfill their addictions and consequently harm their minds and bodies.
To reduce the percentage of teens who use vapes and other forms of e-cigarettes, parents should try to connect with their teenage kids to help them go through the struggles of adolescence without the variables of severe addictions. Hershey’s staff should prioritize and strengthen its drug prevention policies to improve students’ well-being. Although most students may not enjoy the school pressuring them not to make certain decisions, the school needs to heighten its awareness for living drug-free and healthy in a more positive way.
If you want to prevent students at Hershey High School from developing addictions to vapes, contact the school board at the community feedback form or talk with high schoolers to change whether or not they start vaping and going down a dangerous path.
