Vaping 101 - Educating Parents About the Dangers of Vaping

Vaping 101 - Educating Parents About the Dangers of Vaping

Monday, March 11
7:00 - 8:00 pm
DMC Performance Hall

Des Moines Christian invites you into a discussion that our students are already having.

The goal of this event is to educate parents on what vaping devices look like, why the e-cig trend is on the rise, what the medical repercussions are, and answer any questions that may still exist. To educate us on this night, the Urbandale Police and Dr. Ken L. Cheyne, Adolescent Medicine Specialist at UnityPoint Health, will join us with their areas of expertise, leading us to a better understanding of the vaping world.

This event is free and open to anyone who wishes to be more informed.

The FDA reports that vaping has risen from 1.5% use among high school students in 2011 to 16% in 2015. Even more drastically, from 2016 to 2018, the Iowa Youth Survey reported that there was a 78% increase in electronic nicotine devices among Iowa high school students and 48% in middle school students. Currently, 24.8% of high school students and 4.9% of middle school students are vaping--and yes, that may include your child.

Many think of vaping as a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes as it filters out the carcinogens that cigarettes hold. Instead, vaping devices are built in flashy models that put the nicotine in a liquid substance full of attracting flavors. The danger is that nicotine continues to be an addictive substance, and the second step to vaping is inserting marijuana leaves or THC (the mind-altering substance of marijuana) into the liquid. Both versions are attractive for youth and easily within their reach, but still remain illegal.

There have been numerous vaping instances cited at Des Moines Christian the past few years that include the use of nicotine and marijuana, and the trend is showing it isn’t going to disappear soon. Students are very aware of how vaping works and the different models of e-cigarettes that can be used, but the disconnect exists in parents knowing what to look for and how to talk to their child about vaping.

Vaping 101, a parent session, is the perfect opportunity to be educated on a reality that is infiltrating the lives of our students at a rapid pace. No matter how much you know or don’t know, this informational night is a great start on the journey to knowing more about what your student may face as a temptation in and out of school.

Together, as parents and educators, we must strive for the best of our students’ spiritual, mental, and emotional lives. We know this parent night will offer you valuable information that will assist you in this journey!