With flavors such as gummi bear and cotton candy, vaping may seem harmless. However, it can carry many harmful chemicals into your lungs including formaldehyde and toxins.
Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) use among middle and high school students tripled from 2013 to 2014, according to data published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Tobacco Products (CTP). According to data gathered from the PNA (Presentation Needs Assessment) for Broome County in 2016, the past 30 day-use of e-cigarettes was above the national level.
With these statistics in mind, the Chenango Valley Athletics Department hosted informative presentations for Chenango Valley students in grades 6-12 on March 19 and 20, addressing the health risks associated with vaping.
Local public health educators shared facts that are known about the dangers of vaping, and emphasized that there are still many unknown risk factors. They also questioned the fact that many vaping flavors seem to be targeted towards youth, and shared information on New York State’s Clean Indoor Air Act. Since October 23, 2017 e-cigarette use has been banned anywhere that smoking tobacco products are prohibited (including school grounds).
An evening presentation on March 19 was open to parents, staff, and community members, in addition to students. This presentation encouraged parents to have a conversation with their children about e-cigarettes, while maintaining an open dialogue. After this presentation, attendees were invited to take a bag of cotton candy, representing the influence that vaping flavors can have on youth and that there are safer alternatives to e-cigarettes.
This informative event was made possible through a collaboration including BC Promise Zone, Drug Free Communities, Lourdes Youth Services, and Tobacco Free Broome & Tioga.
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