Becoming a Youth Advocate Against Vaping
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 6/26/24
Contact: Kelly Dremann Tobacco Cessation Coordinator 330-674-5035 kdremann@holmeshealth.org
NEWS RELEASE Millersburg, OH –
As a teen, I was initially drawn to the amount of vaping. However, as more research has emerged about the potential dangers of vaping, I've become an outspoken opponent of the practice. In particular, I'm concerned about the skyrocketing rates of vaping among young people. I have encountered many instances where kids have offered me to try it. According to data from the CDC, more than 5 million middle and high school students in the United States used e-cigarettes in 2019. This represents a nearly 80% increase in youth vaping over just one year. As someone who understands the addictive power of nicotine firsthand with family members, it's deeply troubling to see so many young people, especially middle school-aged youth becoming hooked on a potentially deadly habit.
As a bystander, I once witnessed a group of teenagers vaping. I have encountered many instances where kids have offered me to try it, and it made me uneasy. Seeing the potential dangers of vaping, I later researched some statistics that highlighted the prevalence of teen vaping - like the fact that in 2020, about 19.6% of high school students reported using e-cigarettes. The plastic in these vapes turns into “microplastics,” or tiny pieces of plastic, which continue to pollute not only the environment and our food and drinking water, but those chemicals are also going into your lungs. This experience motivated me to advocate against vaping among young people, and I have since actively engaged in spreading awareness about the negative health effects associated with it.
Submitted by A concerned Holmes County Youth
85 N. Grant St. Millersburg, OH 44654 | Phone (330) 674-5035 | Fax (330) 674-2528 | holmeshealth.org