Vaping in the Bathroom
Sittin' in the classroom thinkin' it's a drag
Listening to the teacher rap - just ain't my bag
When two bells ring you know it's my cue
Gonna meet the boys on floor number 2
Smokin' in the boys room
Smokin' in the boys room
Teacher don't you fill me up with your rules
Everybody knows that smokin' ain't allowed in school
In 1985, Motley Crue rocked this classic salute to teenage anarchy. Back in the 80s, the logistics of sneaking a smoke in the school bathroom were not easy. The smoke smell and residue of the cigarette or joint floated into the hallway, causing immediate suspicion. Back in my high school days, I can easily recount the incidents of smoking in the bathroom – girls or boys – and there were not a whole lot… likely because it was a detectible event that was too tricky for anyone to get away with.
Fast forward to today. We have experienced an overall societal decline in cigarette use. Public awareness campaigns and health-related research have educated us on the negative impacts of smoking. There is a general acceptance among our population – and even among cigarette users – that smoking is a bad habit and there are irrefutable links of cigarette use to causing cancer and poor health. The tobacco companies retreated and redirected their efforts into e-cigarettes and vape.
Vaping products hit the market in the form of e-cigarettes nearly 20 years ago. The popularity of vaping has exploded over the last few years. The slick technology behind the vaping devices has evolved. Sleek packaging and ‘candy’ flavored designs disguise the dangerous addiction of vaping. The products look modern and ‘fresh’, come in attractive flavours and scents, and have been marketed through effective social media campaigns targeting youth. I have mistaken the smell of vape for perfume and vape pens for Sharpie markers.
Parents and guardians – do you know what to look for? I encourage you to do your research and check out the scope and variety of vaping products available, so you know what to look for. Vape products are far too accessible in retail locations and gas stations in our communities, as well as online. There are ‘herbal’ vape product lines, masked as healthy vapes which are meshed together with wax and concentrate vaporizers. The appeal of ‘Blue Raspberry Lemon’ pods or ‘Pineapple Ice’…there are literally more flavours of vape than there are types of potato chips.
The marketing appeal of these products is shocking. Knowing what we don’t know is critical for parents. Many of these products contain nicotine. The consequences of vaping and the harmful chemicals contained have unknown long-term effects and can alter brain development of youth. Research indicates that on average, kids first try a vaping device at the age of 13. And one in 10 of those kids who become addicted to vape have their first puff after waking up and require a ‘hit’ every 15 minutes after that. Part of vaping involves heating oil and then inhaling it. There is a landslide of respiratory problems among youth relating to vaping. Smoking a vape cartridge a day is the same as smoking a pack of cigarettes a day.
The more compact and discreet the vaping tools have become, the tougher it has become for schools to detect usage. Enforcing ‘no vaping’ guidelines within school makes it very difficult when we are faced with vape techno-gadgets and tools which are designed to be cool and concealed.
Please check out this site for information - https://www.canada.ca/en/services/health/campaigns/vaping.html - and learn more about the short- and long-term consequences of vaping.