Teen vaping rates have surged, with one in five Oklahoma high school students using vape products, double the national average. Lora Buechele from the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust highlights that vaping is now the primary choice for youth tobacco use, often leading to dual use with other tobacco products. Efforts to curb this trend include educational visits to tobacco retailers and resources like the “My Life My Quit” hotline, which provides quit coaches to help students stop vaping. Schools are also implementing measures like vape detectors and restricted restroom access to combat the issue.

The challenge is compounded by the ease with which vaping devices can be concealed, making it difficult for parents and educators to detect usage. Nicotine in vaping devices poses significant mental health risks, including mood swings and anxiety, especially in adolescents with developing brains. Buechele emphasises the importance of open communication between parents and children about the dangers of vaping and tobacco use. Encouraging children to pledge to be tobacco-free and being a role model by not using tobacco products are key strategies in prevention.

Source: Tahlequah Daily Press