As the superintendent of the Espanola School District I am gravely concerned about the misinformation e-cigarette companies have targeted at children and teens about vaping. Despite what teens have been told, these products are not safe for youth. E-cigarettes can contain unusually high levels of nicotine. In fact, one e-cigarette pod can contain as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. Youth who vape are particularly susceptible to nicotine addiction, which can harm their still developing brains and bodies.
Currently, about one in four high school students vape on a regular basis, which equates to more than five million teens across the nation. E-cigarettes come in thousands of flavors that strongly appeal to kids, including “strawberry watermelon,” “cotton candy” and “mint berry.” It is not surprising to learn that 97 percent of our youth who vape regularly use this flavorful nicotine.
Espanola Valley High School will host a rally Thursday (1/16) in partnership with the American Heart Association’s National #QuitLying Day, when our students will demand accountability by e-cigarette companies for spending millions of dollars marketing products directly to teens and help them learn the facts about vaping. I encourage all schools and organizations who care about our youth to do the same.
We’ll also conduct a half-time show to educate the High School fans about the dangers of vaping. Please join us today (1/16) for #QuitLying Day, as well as enjoy a great basketball game as our Sundevils take on the Santa Fe High School Demons at 7 p.m. in the High School gymnasium.
I would also like to encourage equally concerned members of our community to sign the
American Heart Association’s letter to Big Vape at QuitLying.org. We need to let them know that our children’s health is not for sale.
Bobbie J. Gutierrez
Superintendent
Espanola School District