This information was included in the January 2020 newsletter distributed by the Lancaster County Crime Prevention Task Force. View the newsletter and SUBSCRIBE here: http://bit.ly/37HuZbq.
We present this as a release of information so parents and children can be fully aware.
Word seems to be going around on vaping and e-cigarettes: they are very addictive and harmful.
Montgomery County recently filed a lawsuit against vape company, Juul, citing predatory business tactics that have influenced youth to become tobacco addicts.
A number of officials and pop culture figures have also come forward to denounce marketing of vapes and e-cigarettes – specifically, glamorous depictions of vape users on social media platforms.
But are those warnings reaching our kids?
Common Sense Media recently reported results from a survey of over 1,000 teens between ages 13 and 17.
About one third of kids said they see kids vaping at school weekly or more often.
And 78 percent said vaping is popular with peers where they live.
Many kids pointed to social media as a main advertiser of vape products – 23 percent said that is how they first learned of vaping.
The survey indicates kids are generally aware of the harmful effects, but more education and awareness are needed.
Over 60 percent of kids said they have been reading or seeing vaping stories/reports in the news.
Nearly 70 percent of kids said they believe vaping to be more harmful than smoking – an encouraging trend.
But, yet, about a quarter of kids surveyed said they thought vaping is “cool.”
We advise that parents become aware of the many products being released (NJoy, Kratomite) that could appeal to youth.
MEDIA CONTACT: Brett A. Hambright, 717-295-2041; bhambright@co.lancaster.pa.us; Twitter: @BrettHambright