I think it's safe to say no one believes that smoking is 'cool' anymore. That stuff causes cancer, and we all know it. Plus it's gross.

Vaping, on the other hand, is apparently the thing to do for youngsters these days.

I mean, I remember when I had a classmate of mine tell me in a college class that she was addicted to her JUUL -- with zero feelings of guilt or unease. Like, what?

And like many things have, the cool thing to do trickled on down the age pipeline, and the act of vaping has become much more prevalent in high schools across America. Older students purchase their own vape devices, let their younger friends use them, buy cartridges for their young friends for a price, etc. Yay for young people and their social pressures!

Now a high school in the state of Iowa is taking steps to stop vape devices from being used on school property.

Fort Dodge High School in Iowa is planning to install vape sensors in all of its bathrooms.

According to KCCI, "If students try to vape in a bathroom, the sensors will detect it and send a message to staff members. The district says this move will help keep kids safe in school."

The overall cost of the project will be roughly $17,000.

According to WebMD, there are four major side effects of vaping. They are as follows:

  • Lung cancer and issues
    • "Vape oils consist of a host of chemicals and metals that may be harmful to your lungs including: nickel, tin, lead, flavorings like diacetyl, and other ultra-fine particles. You may have trouble breathing, experience excessive coughing, chest pain, nausea, fatigue, vomiting, and even fever from excessive e-cigarette use. In more severe cases or throughage, you may even need to be hospitalized."
  • Brain Damage
    • "Nicotine negatively affects how synapses—connections between brain cells—are formed. Many devices also produce vapor containing lead, which can cause brain damage."
  • Mouth/gum disease
    • "When you are destroying healthy bacteria and tissue in the oral cavity, it’s simply not a great way to take care of yourself."
  • Heart Issues
    • "E-cigarette users were 56 percent more likely to have a heart attack than non-users, according to recent studies."

A CDC study found that "99% of the e-cigarettes sold in assessed venues in the United States contained nicotine."

Most Commonly Used Drugs in Iowa

Here's a breakdown of how much we use legal and illegal drugs in the Hawkeye State -- all with the statistics to back it up. Some of it isn't pretty, but it's the truth.

Milo Mini-Resort

Mini-Resort in Milo, Iowa

 

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