The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) recently reported that the number of high schoolers who vape in the state has increased by 150% over the past three years. This announcement comes at a time when government officials are busy investigating the health dangers associated with vaping or e-cigarette devices.
Two Boone County high schoolers recently polled their peers about their e-cigarette use. Some 53% admitted to having used them. Many of the students that the teens interviewed admitted to routinely using vaping devices in front of their teachers. The teenagers noted that many educators didn’t recognize the device as containing nicotine because of its pleasant scent.
The two student researchers made a presentation in Charleston in front of the House Committee on the Prevention and Treatment of Substance Abuse on Jan. 23. It’s there that they pointed out how students have long been inhaling fumes from these vaping devices and that they have altogether replaced standard cigarettes.
As for the student researchers, they argued that their classmates keep using these devices because they have no idea of the harmful chemicals that the e-cigarettes contain. They contend that their peers aren’t aware that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) hasn’t approved these devices. The students also argue that retailers make it so easy for kids to get their hands on these e-cigarettes by not checking identification when they go to purchase them.
Researchers have recently conducted studies on the impact that vaping devices can have on an individual’s health. They have found that these e-cigarettes can cause lung damage or cancer just like any other nicotine-laced product.
State legislators vowed to rewrite tobacco laws after hearing the students’ presentation. They intend to make it clear that e-vaping devices shouldn’t be sold to minors. They also committed to doing a better job of warning consumers about the dangers associated with these devices.
If you or your child have developed an illness due to your use of vaping products, then you owe it to yourself to take action against the manufacturers of these devices. A consumer protection attorney can help you go after e-cigarette manufacturers that deceived you into thinking that the device you were using was safe. You can use any damages that you recover to pay for your medical expenses.
