Millburn Superintendent Addresses Vaping 'Epidemic'

MILLBURN, NJ - New Jersey considers becoming the first state to ban the sale of all electronic smoking devices, Millburn Superintendent Dr. Christine Burton is reminding the community of the dangers of the devices.

"I know you have all been seeing and hearing the very disturbing news reports about lung illnesses and deaths due to the use of E-cigarettes and vaping. The increase in the use of these electronic substitutes for cigarettes by our young people has been a concern in our schools and around the nation during the last few years," Burton said. "We have been clear that these devices should not be brought into our in our schools by our students, or used by them at any time. The medical experts now agree, the CDC recommends that people not use e-cigarettes."

Indeed, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has declared an e-cigarette illness outbreak. The actions come as the number of vaping illnesses across the country more than doubled in just the past week, from 215 to 450, while the number of New Jersey cases rose from 15 to 19 during the same period, according to the CDC and the state Department fo Health.

Six have died in the U.S.

"The fruity flavorings, and the easy availability of these devices have made vaping an addiction that is now at epidemic proportions among middle and high school-aged students," Burton said. "At a time when cigarette use among teens was on the decline, young people are now becoming addicted to nicotine at alarming rates. They are also using these devices to inhale other substances, legal and illegal, that are now believed to be causing serious lung diseases, and death."

Millburn said the district has held programs for the students and parents to provide information about the epidemic, and to sound the alarm on its dangers.

"We are glad to see that now our state and the federal government are taking steps to prevent these products from getting into the hands of our youth, and to eliminate the flavorings that make them so appealing. We continue to be vigilant in our schools," Burton said.

The actions in New Jersey also come as at least four lawsuits have been filed in New Jersey against e-cigarette makers, all claiming that the product has hooked a new generation of young people to a potentially dangerous substance.

This school year, the MMAC Empower Hour will kick off its annual parenting series by addressing the topic with “The Vaping Crisis is Killing Our Kids” on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. at the Millburn Library.

Nancy Kislin, LCSW, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist will run the program discussing the vaping epidemic.

"Please partner with us in our ongoing efforts to improve the health and wellness of our children, in this case by eradicating the use of these devices, before it is too late," Burton said.

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