As the rise of our knowledge on vapes and specifically young adults illegally vaping, the big question remains: how much money has been spent on e-cigarettes? A study by Reuters shows that more than $2.4 billion (or $2,000 per person who vapes) was spent on e-cigarette products in 2024.
Here’s what David Williams, the principal at HHS, has to say about his thoughts on how nicotine advertising is like a magnet.
“That’s one of the things that concerns me the most, is that when vapes first came out, they were marketing them and they still do intentionally to teenagers,” Principal Williams said.” You know, increasing the nicotine on purpose to get people addicted and then people are addicted the rest of their lives and always spending their money on that stuff, so that’s one of my biggest concerns with the nicotine specifically, it’s so addictive and there’s so much in there.”
HHS School Nurse Shannon Williams shares what nicotine does to the human body for those who are and aren’t athletes.
“They have done a lot of studies out there but there’s not a ton of studies out there that show the full effects of vaping to the lungs, but anything that you put in your lungs that don’t belong in your lungs can cause a decrease in lung functions so that can affect you as an athlete,” Nurse Williams said. “You might not be able to get in as much running in as you used to, or stuff like that.”
An anonymous student bravely and openly admitted to their feelings on quitting and the consequences of becoming addicted.
“Oh yeah, I have, but you know it’s like the temptation is like really hard not to take it, in a way it kinda relaxes me, but the bad part about it is that if I don’t have it I’m not gonna feel relaxed.”
Principal Williams quotes his worries about nicotine consumption in the student body.
“Well, I think when it comes to vaping, one of the things that worries me most is just the high percentage of nicotine that they have in those vape cartons,” Principal Williams said. “I don’t think they realize that. Like, I’m not sure where this stat comes from, but they say that one carton is five times the nicotine they’d get in a cigarette so you know, kids take one drag off of a vape, they’re getting five times of nicotine they would get even from a cigarette,” Principal Williams said.
In addition to the health cautions Principal Williams shares, he also explains what consequences can come after being caught using an e-cigarette on the school premises.
“The consequence the first time is two days in ISS (In School Suspension), but the kids also have to complete an online curriculum just about the dangers in vaping and nicotine, I think just being honest with kids about it that’s how i try to handle it, try to give them as much information about it as possible, when I go into my meets its something that I always talk about because it is an issue, but like I dont get angery or upset with kids with vaping I just want them to understand the truth and how bad it is for them.”
