According to the Arkansas Center for Health Improvement, age 13 is when public school students in the Natural State use vaping products for the first time.
E-cigarettes, Puff Bars, Juuls, Altos, are just a few of the popular brand names that are on the tobacco market today. The products are available in different styles of devices and different flavors that can be appealing to youth.
“Vaping has probably become the number one addiction among school age children,” Monticello School District Superintendent Sandra Lanehart stated. “Certainly, we have seen an increase over that last few years. Vaping can result in serious lung issues that create permanent damage. Monticello Schools are educating students about these health hazards. In addition, the district has installed Vape Detectors at both Monticello High School and Monticello Middle School in an effort to prevent students from vaping.”
In Arkansas, the legal age to purchase tobacco/vaping products is 21. Recently, according to documents from the 28th State District Court, Judy Ardeneaux, Todd Faulkner and Andre Griffen were cited by the Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board on the violation of selling tobacco products to minors in Drew County.
“For over a decade, we have been facing the world of vaping head on,” Drew County Sheriff Tim Nichols stated. “When it was first commercially introduced to America, we were under the perception that it was “safer” than cigarettes. Since then, we have seen a huge influx of juveniles and adults suffering from the uses of electronic cigarettes/vapes. Sadly, it is easy to see why many want to vape when you think about all of the flavors and the appeal of it. However, what we know is that vaping is very addictive and dangerous. The chemicals and contents of these devices are scary when you begin to break them down. I personally believe that vaping has long term effects on our youth, which causes a chemical imbalance within them. The withdrawals which we have seen young people go through after not having access to their vapes is alarming. With all this being said, let me say this, to the businesses who sell these products, we have a list of those selling these products to children and your time is coming. To the ones who are making these illegal purchases for them your time too is coming. I am not interested in charging the kids for having these items, instead I am interested in charging those responsible because let’s face it, kids will be kids and they will push the boundaries. The adults who allow it are the ones who need to learn that this is not a safe product for our children. If you or anyone you know is addicted to vaping, please contact our office and we will try to help you along the way.”
According to the Arkansas Department of Health, vaping has increased by 80 percent since 2018.
In 2019, the State of Arkansas and the United States Congress, enacted laws levying an excise tax on e-cigarettes, extended the Arkansas Clean Indoor Air Act to include e-cigarettes on the list of prohibited items and prohibited e-cigarette advertising that targeted youth.
“Over the past two years, we have seen the use of vapes triple if not quadruple in the school district,” Drew Central School District Kimbraly Barnes added. “Vaping is not limited to a social population, race, gender, or age. We have confiscated vapes from students as young as elementary students to Seniors. It is important that people recognize the long-term damage the chemicals inside the vapes can do to young peoples’ lungs and other body organs. It is an on-going process to identify vapes because they can be disguised as writing utensils as well as something as small as USB flash drives. We appreciate our parents’ and community members’ on-going support as we continue to educate our Pirates of the permanent long-term health damage that can occur with repeated vaping.”
The Arkansas Alcoholic Beverage Control Board and the Monticello Police Department declined to comment.
