Let's Get Real

Today I want to speak directly to the students about a very serious matter. The subject is vaping and all the problems associated with it. Okay, so you want to stop reading because you think you know it all and you have all the answers. I'm telling you, there are a lot of new reports from the medical industry that are scary and should wake you up. We have tried over the last year to educate the students. We have signs in or near all the bathrooms giving facts about vaping and what is actually in that vape you are using. We have spoken to the students about the problems with vaping and the serious addiction that can come from vaping. It seems like no one listens and thinks we are just old people who don't know what we are talking about. Well, let gets real and list some real facts.

Vaping is becoming an epidemic across the state and across the country. According to the U.S. health officials, the number of vaping-related illnesses has surpassed 1000 and there is no sign the outbreak is fading. Recently there have been more than a dozen deaths from vaping-related lung injuries. Doctors say the illness, which first appeared in March, resembles an inhalation injury. Symptoms include severe, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. Most who got sick said they vaped products containing THC, the marijuana ingredient that causes a high, but some said they vaped only nicotine. In October, a 17 year old Bronx boy died of a vaping-related illness and Governor Cuomo stated in his announcement that "You are playing with your life when you play with this stuff".

The Center for Disease Control is working hard to address this problem and figure out what exactly is causing the deaths. Their investigations have increasingly focused on THC (tetrahydrocannabinol oil vaping products, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) but until a cause is found, the CDC continues to advise Americans to refrain from using any vaping products. Some of you may be thinking that you have vaped for a couple years and you don't see any of the effects. Well, the problem with that thinking is you may now be addicted and the effects won't show up for awhile, usually when it's too late.

I wish I could truly convince everyone of you how serious this is. Students, listen... PEOPLE ARE DYING from vaping. That's a fact! They are suffering serious lung injuries from vaping. All of this is just now starting to appear from vaping. Vaping with THC is ruining your life also. More and more are using THC in their vapes and it is harming you. I don't understand why you would chose to come to Vantage, where you can set your entire future career in motion and make great money in a job you love, and ruin it all by vaping. We are going to get real serious about this in the near future. Do you want to ruin the great opportunity that you have here at Vantage. Continue to vape and you will lose that opportunity. One last fact, did you know that THC stays in your system for 3 days to a month or longer in urine. You will be caught. Please start to make good choices. If your friends are doing this, please talk them out of it. If you or a friend are having problems quitting, please see me and we will get you help. Make the choice now that will change your entire future. Don't ignore the facts, it is time to get real.

Here are some links that explain in more detail:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/marijuana-rehab/how-long-system-body

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/10/20895845/kids-vaping-parents-guide-help-them-quit

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-marijuana-help-your-mental-health/?utm_campaign=cc+tweets&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=191111&cvosrc=social%20network.twitter.cc+tweets&cvo_creative=191111