By Janessa C.
Vaping has quickly become a trend among students, but it has serious health risks, especially for young people. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can decrease focus and academic performance. Students continue to vape day-day or in between classes, some claiming it helps anxiety, or used as a distraction, or simply because of peer pressure and curiosity. This may just be a “One time thing” until it turns into an addiction.
Aliah says, “I do not struggle with vape abuse. I have self-control and I see it as more of a downfall activity for lames.” But the consequences are severe. According to the Lung Organization, E-cigarettes also contain harmful chemicals like formaldehyde, which damage the lungs and heart, increasing the risk of long-term health problems.
The use of nicotine also interferes with brain development, affecting learning, memory, and decision-making. As Xavier states, “I’d love to quit and move forward in life.” This mindset reflects the challenges many students face as they try to break free from addiction. While vaping may seem harmless, it can have long-lasting effects on students’ health, education, and future. Students, parents, and educators must recognize these dangers and take action to prevent vaping among young people. This affects brain development negatively, as teenagers are undergoing development constantly, which impacts memory and decision-making, and brain cell loss, making adults indecisive later in life.
Vaping also has a significant impact on sports and physical activities. Ashlynn overcame vaping by realizing its impact on her athletic performance: “I realized the effects of vaping and how it was affecting the sport I was playing, my breathing, and conditioning.” E-cigarettes decrease lung capacity, endurance and overall conditioning of such sports. This may cause you to fall behind in everyday life, as you feel others are “doing more” than you when they have quicker endurance and lung capacity than the average e-cigarette user would.
As with lots of bad habits, vaping may not seem such a big deal in this moment. Unfortunately the bill comes due later, often when it is too late.