Wednesday, January 16, 2019 The Nugget Newspaper, Sisters, Oregon
VAPING: Sisters is
seeing uptick in use
of nicotine product
Continued from page 1
is focused primarily on nico-
tine use.
Young people of Sisters
have clearly gotten swept up
in this wave, and the issue is
becoming a public-health con-
cern since many Americans
believe that the use of e-cig-
arettes is harmless.
Sisters Middle School and
Sisters High School (SHS)
administrators have noticed a
definite uptick in vaping over
the past year. Anonymous
reporting through surveys
indicates that 46 percent of
students responding in grade
9 and 30 percent in grade 11
have tried vaping.
This makes it likely that
a good number of students
are vaping regularly. Both
schools have stepped up
efforts for prevention, detec-
tion, and intervention.
<We9re seeing use across
the board among our students,
from athletes, non-athletes,
freshmen to seniors 4 there
is no particular group or pat-
tern,= said SHS Principal Joe
Hosang.
The U.S. Surgeon General
Jerome Adams made a nation-
wide appeal last month, offer-
ing a report heavy with warn-
ings about the dangers of vap-
ing among teenagers. In bold,
his messages states, <We must
take action now to protect the
health of our nation9s young
people and protect them from
a lifetime of nicotine addiction
and associated health risks.=
Concerns about using
e-cigarettes for vaping cen-
ters around the dangers to
the body and brains of young
people. Nicotine exposure
in people under 25, while
the brain is still develop-
ing, can impact learning, due
to changes in memory and
attention. The aerosol can
introduce the user and others
around them to harmful sub-
stances that include ultrafine
particles, which can damage
the lungs, as well as heavy
metals and volatile organic
compounds that are known to
be unhealthy.
One of the main concerns
about vaping has to do with
the concentration of nicotine
involved. One Juul cartridge
or <pod= can contain up to
the equivalent of 20 conven-
tional cigarettes. The Surgeon
General9s report indicates
that as many as 67 percent
of users between the ages of
15-24 don9t fully understand
that Juuls contain nicotine at
all. Given that nicotine is one
of the five most addictive sub-
stances known in America,
there is a clear and pres-
ent danger of young people
quickly becoming dependent
on the substance.
The creation of e-cigarette
technology relies on the mar-
keting of the devices as being
significantly safer than regu-
lar cigarettes. There is some
truth to this claim in that
tar and other carcinogenic
byproducts are not present.
However, Juul and other
manufacturers are now back-
pedaling, insisting that their
entire reason for existence
is to help smokers of tradi-
tional combustible cigarettes
switch over to e-cigarettes.
Their latest marketing comes
after years of ads that were
filled with images of young
people using the product.
The Instagram and Facebook
pages of the company were
recently pulled after nation-
wide complaints of the target-
ing of young people.
One of the struggles for
parents, teachers, and coaches
who care about young people
being involved in vaping is
that the practice is easy to
hide. Absent is the unmis-
takable odor of regular ciga-
rettes and the accompanying
bad breath and residual smell
on clothes and upholstery.
There is no real smell at all
or a fruity scent. Gone is the
crumpled package found in
the bottom of a garbage can,
replaced by a device that
looks like a functioning USB
drive or another metallic
gadget easily hidden in the
palm of the hand or the corner
of a pocket.
Sisters High School stu-
dents identify three main rea-
sons for vaping:
1. It seems cool, <sexy,=
and a way to feel accepted.
There is a sense that <every-
one9s doing it.=
2. It9s exciting to do some-
thing that9s a little risky and
that9s easy to get away with.
3. It makes them feel good
and it alleviates stress.
Many students truly don9t
see vaping as problematic,
other than they know their
parents and school people
don9t agree and that they
might get in trouble if caught.
Sisters High School health
teacher Heather Johnson is
passionate about quelling the
vaping epidemic and is work-
ing to help educate students
and parents.
<I believe the key is pre-
vention,= she says. <If we
can influence our youth to
never try vaping, they have
an exceptional opportunity
to avoid nicotine throughout
their lifetime. When students
are first exposed to nicotine,
their brain falls in love with
this drug and immediately
creates nicotine receptors.
Think of nicotine as a key,
and receptors as little locks.
When the nicotine unlocks
<Another way to mitigate
this epidemic is through posi-
tive peer pressure 4 students
supporting an environment of
not tolerating any drug use.
We are working to maintain
an environment where stu-
dents care and connect with
each other and truly help one
another access trusted adults
and other resources that can
help.=
— Kindling —
$7,900
BUY OR
SELL YOUR CAR
Best Price! No Hassles! CARFAX Certifi ed!
Sisters
i s t e r s C
Car
a r C
Connection
o n n e c t i o
541-815-7397
with locally owned ...
102 W. Barclay Dr., Sisters
Remodeling
Resolutions?
Call Sweeney Plumbing
to tap into some
great ideas!
541-549-4349
260 N. Pine St., Sisters
Licensed
Bonded / Insured
CCB#87587
ANYTIME – ANYDAY
MOLD
Continued from page 1
appetizers and desserts served
by Sisters High School culi-
nary arts students and a silent
auction. The concert begins at
7:30 p.m. with the two musi-
cal legends sharing the stage
for a performance showcasing
their songs and the stories and
inspirations behind them.
Starry Nights events have
raised over $1.3 million in
net proceeds for the Sisters
Schools Foundation since its
inception in 1997. Among the
artists who have performed in
the series are Vince Gill, Amy
Grant, Keb9 Mo,9 Nitty Gritty
Dirt Band, Kenny Loggins,
Michael McDonald, Karla
Bonoff, Kim Carnes, Rodney
Crowell, Hal Ketchum, Lee
Ann Womack and Christopher
Cross. <An Acoustic Evening
with Lyle Lovett and John
Hiatt= marks a special return
to Sisters for both artists 4
Hiatt last appeared at Starry
Nights in 2005, and Lovett
performed at the event with
his ensemble in 2006.
For more information visit
www.sistersstarrynights.org.
FIREWOOD
SALES
One Owner, 81K Miles,
New Tires from LS,
Great MPG, Only
★
I believe the key is
prevention. If we can
influence our youth to
never TRY vaping, they
have an exceptional
opportunity to avoid
nicotine throughout
their lifetime.
— Heather Johnson
TICKETS: Show is
slated for Tuesday,
January 29
Year-round
2010 Jeep
Patriot
WAT E R
the nicotine receptor, a feel-
good chemical called dopa-
mine is released, giving you
a little 8hit9 or 8buzz.9 This
doesn9t last long. The nicotine
soon fades, making the recep-
tor eager for more. Addiction
is born.
21
★
FIRE
★
R E C O N S T R U C T I ON
We remediate and restore property from almost
any disastrous event. We work with your insurance
company for you.
Visit Pioneer at bit.ly/water-damage-pros-sisters to learn
more or call 541-604-7272 to schedule services today.
CCB# 196157
—
—
DINING & TAKE-OUT
SISTERS
FOREST PRODUCTS
Menu at SistersSaloon.net
541-410-4509
541-549-RIBS
SistersForestProducts.com
until midnight every night
190 E. Cascade Ave.