Beginning towards the end of the 2016-2017 school year and continuing into this year, Pentucket students have been vaping during school, particularly in the bathrooms.

Mr. Kowalski, vice principal at Pentucket, explained that when he first started here in the beginning of the school year, he “heard there was a vaping problem at the school” but “didn’t know much about what vaping was… at all.” However, after getting acclimated at Pentucket and learning about the issue at hand, Mr. Kowalski decided to approach the situation by “talking these kids into good decisions.” He hopes to “educate the students, work with the faculty, and try to make kids understand.” He stated simply that “it needs to stop,” and students caught vaping will be suspended as a consequence.

So, what is vaping?

According to centeronaddiction.org, vaping is “inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often referred to as vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. The term is used because e-cigarettes do not produce tobacco smoke, but rather an aerosol, often mistaken for water vapor, that actually consists of fine particles.”

Does vaping affect an individual’s health?

Yes, and not in a good way. The article “Concerns explode over new health risks of vaping,” by Science News for Students explains that “vapors mess with immunity,” and vaping could “contain cancer-causing chemicals.” Additionally, the article highlights concerns about the way vaping can damage fibroblasts. Fibroblasts repair damaged tissue, so if this ability is impaired by vaping, any damage caused to the individual’s body may not heal properly.

Is it illegal for high schoolers/ what are the consequences?

Consumption of nicotine below age 18 is illegal, and for athletes it violates  Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA) standards. In the MIAA handbook, rule 62.1 states that “From the earliest fall practice date, to the conclusion of the academic year or final athletic event (whichever is latest), a student shall not, regardless of the quantity, use, consume, possess, buy/sell, or give away any beverage containing alcohol; any tobacco product (including e-cigarettes, , VAP pens & all similar devices).”

More information on vaping can be found on the following websites:

“Are Vape Pens Dangerous?” http://www.teentherapycenter.com/teen-therapy-blog/43-are-vape-pens-dangers

“E-cigarettes and vaping: Everything you need to know” https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/08/27/e-cigarettes-vaping-american-heart-association/14721121/

“‘Juuling’: The most widespread phenomenon you’ve never heard of”

https://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2017/11/15/where-teenagers-are-high-school-bathrooms-vaping/IJ6xYWWlOTKqsUGTTlw4UO/story.html