In urban areas, vape and tobacco shops flood communities. They target minorities and the youth who are experiencing poverty, harsh daily life, or stress. Tobacco and vaping shop products serve as relief, escape, and, for some, entertainment.
Vaping violations in the 757 regions in 2023-2024 ranged from 300 to 1,085 per district. The numbers started relatively high and mostly decreased within the following year. Virginia Beach led with the highest number of vaping violations, at 1,085, and saw a drastic drop to 697 as of last year. Although we are seeing a decrease in the number of vaping violations, the problem remains widespread.
Students indulge in vaping and struggle to quit vaping despite the support to stop and the consequences. Here at Bethel High School, we have restorative counseling that helps with vaping issues long-term and steeper disciplinary action if needed. However, this is not the case for all schools.
According to a USC study, among youth who vape, “Over the study period, the demographics of youth vapers also changed. By 2024, more vapers were female, non-Hispanic Black, or from a rural area. More youth vapers also reported using other substances, including alcohol and cannabis.“…