Sending Myths About Vaping Up in Smoke
Teens often get their information from social media these days, and what they learn about vaping can make it seem cool rather than dangerous. Dr. Annamarie Koller, a Children’s
Hospital of Philadelphia pediatrician working out of Bryn Mawr Hospital, believes that influencing them the old-fashioned way — face–to-face — can be an effective approach to giving them the hard facts.
“One in four high school students in Pennsylvania has tried e-cigarettes or vaping,” Dr. Koller said. “These kids do not understand the health risks. It’s not just a ‘fun flavor.’”
Vaping can lead to a condition known as EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury), which is widespread lung damage with symptoms including coughing, shortness of breath and chest pain, Dr. Koller said. It can have lifelong consequences.
So, Dr. Koller jumped at the chance to get in front of students in person at Blockson Middle School in Norristown to educate preteens and teens through a community education partnership forged by the school, law enforcement and the judicial system.
The partnership started in 2023 after Magisterial District Court Judge Denise Ashe noticed teens coming through her courtroom with a history of vaping, even though state law prohibits the purchase of vapes for those under age 21. Alarmed by both the legal and health implications of the habit, Judge Ashe contacted Bryn Mawr Hospital to invite a physician to talk to students about the health risks.
“Vaping isn’t harmless fun; it’s a dangerous habit that can have long-lasting consequences. This important collaboration allows us to make a profound impact on area teenagers,” said Margaret A. Stevens, Community Health and Outreach Manager at Bryn Mawr Hospital.
Dr. Koller developed two age-appropriate presentations about the dangers of vaping: one for students in grades 5 and 6, and another for grades 7 and 8.
At Blockson, students heard from Dr. Koller, Judge Ashe, the school’s resource police officer and two attorneys from the Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office. The concept is to give students legal and health information that might prevent them from starting to vape. The earlier students learn about the dangers, the less susceptible they may be to getting peer pressured into trying vapes.
Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm the parts of an adolescent’s brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control. Students also need to understand the addictive element of vaping, Dr. Koller said. Just like with cigarettes, vapes that contain nicotine can lead to tolerance and make it difficult to quit.
Her other goal is to help students understand how harmful nicotine can be for smaller children exposed accidentally. Toddlers and young children who may live in the same household as teens can accidentally be injured by these products.
“Small children can get nicotine poisoning just by touching a vape pen, which can pass through their skin,” she said.
The Blockson assemblies are large: 400 to 500 students at each. To keep students’ attention and engagement in the program, presenters ask questions of them. Students who answer correctly might receive an incentive, such as a $5 gift card to Wawa or Dunkin’.
“These students may get their information from social media. Part of our effort aims to provide facts and present them with the truth about the harms of vaping,” Dr. Koller said.