4 days Ago
Aiken and South Aiken high schools have long been rivals in many sports but the schools' principals came together April 14 to ask for Aiken City Council's help. "We return this evening to speak to address the continuing issue of students using electronic cigarettes and possibly to seek your assistance possibly limiting student access to them," South Aiken Principal Sam Fuller and Aiken High School Principal Angela Moore said at the council's April 14 meeting . An estimated 5.
9% of middle and high school students use e-cigarettes, according to the CDC . An additional 1.8% of middle and high school students use nicotine pouches.
The Aiken Center provided each of Aiken County's public high schools with a container to collect e-cigarettes confiscated from students, Fuller continued. "In it are all the tobacco-specific vapes that we've confiscated from students from Sept. 9 until today," Fuller said.
The box appeared nearly full. "This does not include THC vapes as they are taken in possession of law enforcement when they're confiscated," Fuller said. Tobacco use among teenagers isn't new — at one time schools had smoking areas for students — and an estimated 15.
4% of South Carolina residents smoke cigarettes, according to the American Lung Association . But, e-cigarette makers have changed the dynamic, Fuller said. "Vapes have been and continue to be targeted toward our youth with the intent of getting them addicted before their brains are fully developed," he added.
"How else would explain flavors like blueberry watermelon, Blowpop and orange creamsicle?" Some e-cigarettes come pre-installed with video games, Fuller added. Middle and high school students use e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco product, according to the CDC. Fuller asked Aiken City Council to consider amending its zoning ordinance to limit how close e-cigarette stores can be to schools.
South Carolina law already prohibits liquor stores from being less than 300 feet from schools, he said. "At this time, we have a vape shop within 100 feet of our campus and within a half-mile's walk there are five," Fuller said. Aiken High School has two e-cigarette sellers within walking distance of the school.
Fuller also asked the city council to advocate for stronger consequences for shops caught selling e-cigarettes to people under 21. Two members of Aiken City Council, Gail Diggs and Andrea Gregory, work for companies involved in healthcare. Gregory said law enforcement and others need to be monitoring the shops if students are able to buy e-cigarettes, and said the proximity of the shops to the schools was too close for comfort.
Alcohol consumption can damage a still-developing brain, Gregory continued. Among the effects of e-cigarette use are addiction (which can be costly), a loss of impulse control, difficulty learning and other addictions. The state recently held a meeting to discuss e-cigarettes, Gregory continued.
One of the arguments against more regulations is that they help people who are addicted to cigarettes to quit, she added. South Carolina's principals sent a letter to the General Assembly last year, Fuller said. They're saying its for helping people quit smoking but "Blowpop flavor is not marketed to a 50-year-old," Fuller said.
There are several resources available for teenagers and adults looking to quit vaping. Those resources include smokefree.gov and the Aiken Center.
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