Letters to the Editor do not reflect the opinions of The Reporter, its publisher or its staff. You can submit your own Letter to the Editor by email to News@ReadTheReporter.com.
Dear Editor,
A lot of people, including many of my peers, think vaping is a safe alternative to smoking cigarettes. They don’t realize flavored vaping liquids are loaded with nicotine that cause the user to become addicted. The tobacco industry has purposely created enticing flavors to appeal to young consumers.
With Halloween coming up, I’d like to compare vaping with candy:
Photo provided
Kit Kats are an easy candy to share. Just break off a stick and give it to a friend. Like Kit Kats, vapes are also easy to share. Sharing is how most kids get hooked, and it’s the precursor to purchasing one’s own vapes. According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey, 71 percent of youth reported borrowing a vape, and 81 percent of youth have borrowed one from a friend.
Skittles are deceiving, just like vapes. They don’t seem especially exciting; but, it’s impossible to only eat a few, because they’re sweet and flavorful. Like Skittles, E-cigarettes are deceiving (they’re thought to be harmless) and have numerous tasty flavors. Once you try one flavored vape, you want to try them all! Did you know that there are over 17,000 flavors of e-cigarettes? The flavorings make it easier to start using tobacco or vape products.
Vaping alters your brain, and it makes you want to vape more and more. The tobacco industry needs young people to become addicted to replace tobacco quitters and those who die of tobacco-related illnesses.
I’m a member of the Hamilton County VOICE team. I work to engage, educate, and empower my peers to become or remain tobacco free. I also support eliminating flavored vaping and tobacco products, and I want to ensure that kids don’t have access to these harmful products.
I invite all youth to educate themselves at our Red Ribbon Week Scavenger hunt at Cool Creek Park, from 1 to 2 p.m. this Saturday, Oct. 30. You can get the details on our Instagram page at TheActionFive. If you can’t make it Saturday, please join our VOICE Action Team. Search VOICE Indiana and sign up today.
I pledge to remain tobacco free and challenge my friends to do the same.
Will Strahm
Westfield High School Senior
Proud Hamilton County VOICE Member