Vaping And Juuling: Do You Know The Risks To Teens?

BRICK, NJ — Juul. Vape. E-cigarettes. Flair. If you're a parent of a teenager, how much do you really know about the latest trend among teens?

Vaping has rapidly grown in popularity, and as more teens are using the devices to inhale everything from nicotine and marijuana to herbal and flavored liquids, the Brick Township Schools want to make sure parents and guardians have accurate information and resources about them.

The Ocean County DART Prevention Coalition and the Brick Township School District are inviting parents and guardians to a forum on vaping that will be held Tuesday, Jan. 22 in the auditorium at Brick Township High School. The forum will begin at 6:30 p.m.

Here's just some information to get started.

What is a dab pen/cartridge?

A dab pen is a vaporizer pen specifically designed to vape cannabis concentrates. The pens come in two parts; the disposable prefilled cannabis cartridges (carts) and the heating (pen) device.
Because of easy concealment and being virtually odorless, dab pens have emerged as a popular method for using marijuana.

What is a JUUL, Flair, Vape and/or e-cigarette?

Also easily concealed, these devices have emerged as a substitute for traditional cigarettes as well as a new method to deliver marijuana or concentrated THC (dabs), the active ingredient in marijuana. JUULS look like USB or thumb drives and can be filled with highly potent marijuana concentrates, or JUUL pods, which contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.

Often the vapor from these devices is sweetly flavored, which is an allure for young people. However, many of the particles in the vapor contain amounts of toxic chemicals, including high concentrates of nicotine, that have been linked to cancer, as well as respiratory and heart disease.

Why should I be concerned as the parent and/or guardian of a teen?

Nearly twice as many high school teens vape as opposed to smoking cigarettes, with middle-school students showing a strong preference for vaping over smoking traditional cigarettes. Use has continued to rise due to ease of access and concealment.

Use of these products by teens may cause a decrease in attention, concentration and impulse control. Scientists have found that nicotine is more addictive for people than alcohol and adolescents are more vulnerable to addiction than adults because their brains are still
developing.

Use of an electronic devices such as a JUUL, pen, e-cigarettes or Flair are illegal on school grounds.

Although studies show that vaping decreases adult cigarette use, it increases the likelihood that young people will smoke cigarettes.

The DART Prevention Coalition takes aim at substance abuse issues affecting Ocean County residents with a focus on preventing underage drinking and drug use/abuse. Together, we can help prevent our children from using these devices both at home and in our schools.

Questions about the event can be directed to Lori Ann Roland (Brick Township High School) or Nina Rettino, (Brick Memorial High School), the district's student assistance counselors.

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