CROMWELL, Conn. — Story by Sakib Hossain / Cromwell High School
Although e-cigarettes have been around for a decade, vaping rates have skyrocketed in recent years; especially among teens.
Mr. Kuckel, Principal of Cromwell High School said that, “In terms of prevention, it's a multi-pronged approach. One does start in the classroom, sometimes addiction, what it is, it’s an opportunity to self medicate. In terms of the day to day we do have hall monitors and part of their job is to sweep around, pop in. Most of the vaping activity that we see happens in bathrooms.”
Many of the students who vape are unaware of the punishments that they might face and many simply don’t care. Depending on the scenario, the punishment is different. Kuckel said that to possess is a form of an in school suspension and if you are caught using, that is typically a form of an out of school suspension.
An anonymous Cromwell high school agreed to share his reasons behind vaping. He said, “I vape because the stress of school has been getting really intense this year. I found vaping as an escape, a way to kind of alleviate my stress I’ve been feeling this school year."
Kuckel stated that, “It’s not about catching for consequence, it’s about catching to help. It’s an opportunity to help the student and that’s really what we want to do.”
Teenagers are affected by nicotine and similar substances differently than adults. For them, the effects can be severe.
Leslie Knell, the nurse at Cromwell High School, said “It affects their developing brain differently than older adults and it impacts their memory and concentration more. A misconception that’s around there about vaping that it’s healthier than nicotine cigarettes themselves.”
Officer Pietraroia, from Cromwell Police Department said, “It’s kind of like the upcoming trend, it's like the new alternative to cigarettes. We hardly ever see cigarettes anymore.”
Some of these teens are getting vapes from places that you wouldn’t expect.
Officer Pietraroia said, “So, most students get their vapes from friends, sometimes their family members or they buy them on the internet. Most students that I talk to say that they got it at the store. Sometimes the state cracks down on some of these convenience stores that are selling to underage kids.”
A recent CDC report revealed that over 2,000,000 students admitted using a vape product and that number is only increasing.
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