As a local parent of two teenage daughters and a former San Juan Unified School District citizen advisory member, I believe our greatest responsibility is to create a safe and supportive environment where our students can thrive academically, physically and mentally. However, in recent years, the rise of vaping among high school and middle school students has threatened this very goal.
This is not just a local issue. It's a national issue that deserves a state and national response.
Opinion
Like many parents, I've watched with increasing concern as flavored vaping devices become more prevalent in our schools. The 2023 California Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that more than 20% of California high school students have used tobacco products, with vaping being the most common at 18% (far surpassing cigarette smoking at 5%). Among those who use tobacco, a significant majority opt for flavored products, with 89.1% of vape users choosing flavored varieties.
Even more troubling? High school students report that obtaining vapes is relatively easy: nearly 49.9% purchase them from local stores, and 67.3% access them online.
Despite efforts to educate students about the dangers, many still don't fully grasp the risks associated with e-cigarette use. The U.S. Surgeon General has issued serious warnings about the health hazards of vaping, which include harm to the heart and lungs and negative effects on brain functions related to attention, learning and impulse control. Additionally, students who vape are at an increased risk of developing addictions to other harmful substances, potentially leading to a range of other serious issues.
The impact of vaping on academic performance is another serious concern. According to a 2021 study, students who used e-cigarettes were more likely to miss assignments, skip classes and report lower grade point averages compared to peers who do not vape. This correlation between vaping and academic decline should serve as a wake-up call to all of us.
It's not just about protecting our students' health, it's about ensuring they have the best possible opportunity to succeed in their education and beyond.
While parents, teachers and schools are doing everything in their power to steer students away from harmful behaviors, we cannot tackle this issue alone. Our state lawmakers and local officials have made advances enacting measures to ban flavored tobacco. But we also need real enforcement. It's simply a top-down approach solving this epidemic.
The Food and Drug Administration must step up and take decisive action to remove these dangerous products from the marketplace by tightening regulations, enforcing existing laws more rigorously and taking legal action against companies that continue to target our youth with their toxic products.
This is a united demand from bipartisan congressional leaders: Earlier this summer, members of both parties on the Senate Judiciary Committee voiced their frustration and concern while grilling FDA officials about their ability to keep up with the rapidly expanding vaping industry and their deceptive marketing strategies.
Our children's future depends on the actions we take today. As leaders in our community, we cannot afford to let another generation fall prey to the vaping epidemic. It's a matter of national public health to ban these products and act swiftly and decisively to protect our children's health and well-being. Together, we can ensure that our schools remain safe, healthy environments where every student has the opportunity to learn and grow without the looming threat of addiction.
Tab Berg writes on politics, education policy and communications, and is a broadcast commentator for several Sacramento news stations. He and his wife live in Fair Oaks along with two teenage daughters.