High School High

Aizlynn Thim

inspired by St. Mary’s County Health Department

When we think of drug deals we often think of daring stunts, people wearing black hoodies, and cars meeting in a parking lot. Actually, that is not the case. High schoolers easily can get the items they need to vape, often times online or from older friends. Online, Rebecca S. Williams, MHS, PhD; Jason Derrick, MSW; Kurt M. Ribisl, PhD conducted a study in 2015 finding that  flaw in North Carolina. They asked 11 teens between ages 14 to 17 who didn’t smoke to try to buy e-cigarettes online from 98 of the most popular Internet vendors. Minors are not allowed to purchase e-cigarettes in North Carolina-but of the 98 orders, only five were rejected based on a failed age verification. Another route teens take is asking someone older to buy the items they need. Whether it is a pod, a pen, or flavored juices, more often than not someone will give the teens what they have been hoping for. The students at Cannon Falls High School are no different, most of them saying an older friend provided the materials they needed. High Schooler 1 said that “A couple friends just got me stuff for cheap since they said I was cool. I didn’t even know if I wanted to at the time but I guess I got addicted lol.” Another individual, High Schooler 3, said something similar to High Schooler 1 claimed that “Someone bought it for me for $50 for pen and juice.”  High Schooler 2 even compared getting vaping items to alcohol consumption stating that it is “Really easy to get them. It’s not any harder or easier than alcohol or beer.” The truth is vaping is far more common than we think. Acquiring the items necessary to vape is surprisingly easy for not only high schoolers at CFHS, but for high schoolers across the nation.