Between the dates of September 12, 2019, and September 20, 2019, Midlo’s freshman, sophomore, and junior classes attended separate assemblies to address the vaping epidemic that has taken over United States. The senior class attended a similar assembly last year. In an effort to reduce the number of teens who vape, the Midlothian High School invited the Chesterfield County Health Services to present a lecture on the dangers of drug use, specifically highlighting vape abuse. Throughout the presentation, complete with interactive clickers, students anonymously answered questions regarding their use of e-cigarettes, energy drinks, marijuana, and other harmful substances; after the students answered, the presenters analyzed the data and explained the negative effects of these substances on the brain and the body. By the end of the assembly, students and teachers alike had a better understanding of drugs and how they can ruin relationships, threaten job opportunities, and result in fatalities. 

Although Midlo High historically is home to high-achieving and well-behaved students, the vaping epidemic still has touched the lives of many Midlo families. In fact, the vaping epidemic has reached all fifty-two states in America, killing seven individuals who had bright futures ahead of them. The victims of vaping-related illnesses tend to be young males around the age of nineteen, which makes death-by-vaping a major possibility for any community. By conducting the anti-vaping assembly, Dr. Abel and the administrative staff aim to protect Midlo’s students from the dangers of e-cigarette abuse. 

In an effort to combat these tragic effects of vaping, the Center for Disease Control has opened an Emergency Operations Center. “CDC has made it a priority to find out what is causing this outbreak of e-cigarette or vaping-related injuries and deaths,” said CDC Director Robert Redfield, M.D. “Activation of CDC’s Emergency Operations Center allows us to enhance operations and provide additional support to CDC staff working to protect our nation from this serious health threat.” (Leada Gore, AL.com) Additionally, the Trump administration plans to ban all flavored e-cigarettes, hoping this will lessen the appeal of e-cigarettes to younger users

The combined efforts of the CDC, Trump, and Midlo’s own administrators will undoubtedly have a positive impact on the way that our nation’s future leaders abuse nicotine-containing products, such as e-cigarettes. 

To read more, check out the following articles:

• What we know about the mysterious vaping-linked illnesses and deaths (The Washington Post)
• A 7th person has died from vaping-related causes (CNN)
• Trump Administration Plans to Ban Flavored E-cigarettes (New York Times)