Everyone knows vaping is bad for you, but if you look at the increasing numbers of teens who vape, some do not seem to care.

Would you eat something that’s contents were unknown? What if you knew it was bad for you? Would you still eat it? Would you care?

These same questions are playing out in schools across America, but instead of food, it’s vaping.
You might be surprised to know that there have been vaping incidents at Bedford dating back two years ago when administration found the charger for a vaping device. Even though vaping incidents are “rare and limited” according to Dr. Adam Rosen, with only three incidents, he believes that more people are experimenting with the dangerous devices and vaping substances.

It’s not just a problem in Westport or in Connecticut; it’s a problem nationwide. According to the “New York Times,” the death toll has risen to 24 across the nation.

Vaping rates among teenagers has “risen significantly as well the number of vapers. One of the most prominent reasons why vaping usage has risen so quickly among children is the flavorings.

Out of the 15,000 flavors a few examples are “Sour Patch Kids,” “Mango,” “Unicorn Poop,” “Bubble Gum,” “Mint,” and even “Creme Brulee.” Sour Patch Kids is candy that young kids like.

Almost all of the people who have recently been hospitalized due to vaping have said that they have experimented with cannabis vapes, and they have said they got their vapes from street vendors, who sell to kids. This makes the product easier to obtain.

Recent surveys have shown that 43 percent of teens who have tried e-cigarettes say they tried it because of the flavors. However, it’s not only the flavors. 35 percent of teens say the have seen e-cigarette advertisements of the Internet, sparking memories of the heavy cigarette marketing of earlier generations.

With all the backlash on Juul, a major producer of e-cigs, the company decided to suspend all marketing in the United States. But the damage is done. In California, 30 percent of people who got hospitalized due to vaping had to be put on life support, according to the Times article. It’s not even fully known why some of these people are dieing as many suffer from unknown lung diseases.

If there is one thing that anyone can take from this it is that vaping is not safe.