Teen vaping conference educates students

By Joey Voss,
BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Vice principal Mark Simi worked with UC Davis graduate students Cindy Klu and Kyle Jackson to hold a teen vaping presentation in the library on Friday, Nov. 20.

The presentation was a response to the rise of E-Cigarettes and other vaping devices. “We wanted to teach scientific issues to the public,” said Laura Van-Winkle, a professor of respiratory toxicology at UCD.

The presentation focused on the misconceptions about vaping. The presenters made the presentation interactive with the 72 students in attendance by opening it up to questions throughout.

The presenters explained how vaping can lead to bronchitis and a risk of oral disease. They also went over the cost of being addicted to nicotine and how easily that can occur.

According to the presentation, 11.7 percent of teens vape regularly. “This can lead to a change in your metabolism over time and increase your blood pressure,” Klu said.

Jackson believes “coolness” is one of the main reasons teens vape.

“What’s cool only lasts a little bit,” Jackson said. “Just because something is cool doesn’t mean you should do it.”

Throughout the presentation many students had concerns about the data that was being presented.

“Our DSHS students had both insightful questions and poignant comments,” Simi said. “There is also a lot that is unknown about vaping in an industry that is not regulated very well. Essentially there is no way to know the long term effects of vaping. This is what scares me the most about this subject.”

Overall, the presentation was viewed as a success by students and the adults who organized it.

“I think it went very well, especially how engaged and interactive the students were,” Van-Winkle said.

“It was a very nice presentation and informative,” senior Tiya Kamba-Griffin said.

“The UC Davis presenters gave some very meaningful data and information that leaves little doubt that vaping is most certainly unhealthy,” Simi said.