Community members and experts on teen e-cigarette use came together on May 2 for an informed discussion on teen vaping, an epidemic that has made its way to school hallways, teen hangouts and into the hands of middle and high school aged kids.
Sonoma West Publishers hosted the panel discussion in conjunction with the release of their special section report on youth e-cigarette use.
Panelists Terese Voge of Impact Sonoma, a tobacco and nicotine prevention coalition; Dr. David Anderson, a retired physician; Stacy Desideri, Windsor High School principal; Andrew Pardiac, Sonoma West Publishers managing editor and Windsor High School student Cameron Olson spoke on the rise of teen vaping, its health effects and prevalence on high school campuses and how the community could help to educate youth.
Healdsburg High School students Emma Grace, Neil Graham and Aidan Whitlock from the school’s digital media class also showed their public awareness videos on vaping, shorts that featured student interviews on why or why not they use e-cigarettes.
Later, Voge provided an introduction on vaping and information on how vape use has been on the rise among teens. She also screened a video from the Truth Initiative that shows how social media gives fuel to the fire in vaping popularity as well as why kids may start vaping.
According to Voge, 2016-17 data from local Sonoma County school surveys found that when seventh graders were asked if they had tried a vaping pen, 10% said they had. When asked the same question at the high school level, 25% said they had tried a vape pen.
Anderson, who has been advocating for tobacco prevention in youth for years, spoke of the health effects that nicotine can have on the body as well as how it can be risk for women as nicotine intake could be harmful during a pregnancy.
Along with Olson, Desideri spoke of seeing teen vape use first-hand in high schools. She also gave a run down of what vape products look like and the range of products available and how to recognize them and talk to your teen about it.
Lastly, Pardiac discussed how Sonoma West approached coverage of the topic, emphasizing that the coverage showed a reluctance to demonize vape users, but instead provide a platform to educate people of all ages on the issue. The driving idea was that education and awareness is a better method for working on prevention instead of the “Just Say No” approach seen in the ’80s and ’90s.
Missed the event? Sonoma West Publishers will host another vape panel at Analy High School on May 22 at 6:30 p.m.
