DEAR EDITOR:

Vaping is the new cool thing to do around here, right?

Everyone from young adolescents to older adults are doing it. In fact, it is the complete opposite.

Vaping is becoming a major issue here in the United States. It is considered the act of inhaling and exhaling the vapor produced by the heated nicotine liquid (often called juice) of an electronic cigarette, vape pen or personal vaporizer.

With that being said, I think most people who vape either do it because they think it is “fun” or they think it is better than smoking a pack of cigarettes because vaping has been advertised as a healthy alternative to cigarettes.

According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, vaping is not a safe substitute for smoking a conventional cigarette. Like cigarettes, they also contain a very high percentage of nicotine and other potentially harmful chemicals.

We all know that smoking in general causes damage to the lungs, respiratory system and cardiovascular system; although, due to the fact that vaping is a relatively new trend, researchers do not know the long-term negative health effects.

Also, not only does smoking the vape cause health issues, but the device itself can cause actual damage as well. According to CNN, about 2,000 vapes have exploded, causing life-threatening damage to the individual such as extensive lacerations and jaw fractures.

Just like smoking cigarettes, vaping is a silent killer.

DARBY KOLESAR

Mineral Ridge