SARASOTA – Attorney General Ashley Moody visited Riverview High School in Sarasota to meet with school and leaders to discuss the growing epidemic of teens becoming addicted to vaping.
“We know that if a student, a kid, becomes addicted to vaping and the nicotine it can affect their mental health, it can affect their brain which may affect their life’s forever,” said Moody.
According to the Florida Department of Health report, there was a 58% increase in the use of e-cigarettes among high school students from 2017 to 2018.
“We’ve seen more kids become addicted to vaping and nicotine within this last year than we’ve ever seen in recorded history to an addictive substance,” said Moody.
A report from the Florida Department of Health says one in four high school students admit to vaping. Moody’s goal is to find out why students vape, how they get their hands on these tobacco products, and ultimately educate them on the harm they cause.
“Children cannot vape for their long term health. We have to educate them, we have to let them know of the dangers before they ever use their first vaping device,” said Moody.
Just this past May a Sarasota family sued Juul the electronic cigarette company after their daughter became addicted to the vape.
“It’s been so easy for these kids be able to hide it from a.) their parents and b.) their teachers in schools,” said Jared Nessmith, whose daughter became addicted to Juuls. “And we just want to get the word out and allow other parents to know what’s going on and hopefully stop other kids from going through what our kid gone through in the last year.”
A study from the Florida Health Department in 2018 show that 28.3% of all middle school and high school students in Sarasota County have used an electronic vaping product.
Moody says she plans on creating an educational module for students and parents to inform themselves on the risks on vaping and even work on new laws to raise the age for buying Juul like devices in Florida.
