Point Pleasant Boro High School To Hold Vaping Awareness Forum

Point Pleasant Boro High School will hold a vaping-awareness forum later this month.

The forum will be called "Vaping: Danger in Disguise," with the subtitle: "The Medical & Behavioral Implications of Electronic Cigarettes: A Forum for Parents & Students"

The event will be held on Wednesday, March 28 at the high school's auditorium at 7 p.m.

On its website, the school district noted that the use of electronic cigarettes or vapes has exploded since they were introduced 12 years ago, especially among youth and teens. Between 2011 and 2016 – the most recent year with statistical use data – e-cigarette use has risen among adolescents from 1.5 percent to 16.2 percent, according to the district.

"Though the advertisement of cigarettes on television has been banned since 1971, electronic cigarettes are aggressively marketed on TV and other mainstream media channels," according to the district. "In fact, spending on advertising of electronic cigarettes has tripled each year since 2011 and much of the advertising is directly targeted at youth."

Panelists Included:

• Regina Foley, PHD, MBA, RN Chief Operating Officer, Southern Ocean Medical Center
• Dr. Rocco Giliberti, D.O Internal Medicine
• Dr. Gus De La Luz, M.D. Pulmonologist, Shore Pulmonary
• Dr. Eric Alcera, M.D. Adolescent Psychiatrist
• Kurt Karcich, Principal, Point Pleasant Borough High School
• Jim Foley Student Assistance Counselor, Point Pleasant Borough Schools

An introduction will come from Vincent S. Smith, superintendent of Point Pleasant Boro schools.

“Our district is committed to taking a proactive approach to all public health issues and vaping certainly meets the criteria,” said Smith. “There seems to be a persistent misperception that the use of e-cigarettes is safe and that’s just patently false.

“E-cigarettes can lead to addiction and other health issues and the district feel it is our duty to educate students, parents and the committee about the health risks,” he said. “I strongly urge all parents as well as appropriately-aged students to attend this forum. Now is the time to discuss what we, as a community, can do to protect the health of our students before they become a statistic.”

Point Pleasant Boro schools photo