St. Luke’s to hold discussion on risks of vaping, e-cigarettes

St. Luke’s University Health Network will host “The Truth About Vaping: An Important Discussion on Vaping and E-Cigarettes” on Wednesday from 7-8 p.m. in the Lehighton Area High School auditorium.

“As a district, we’re trying to bring awareness of the different items and dangers these items and/or practices present to the students,” Tim Tkach, Lehighton’s assistant to the superintendent, said in announcing the event.

A St. Luke’s pulmonologist will be on hand Wednesday to talk about the recent outbreak of vaping-related illness, the health risks and dangers of using e-cigarettes, and the tobacco industry’s marketing to youth.

Lehighton Area High School Principal Sue Howland said vaping has been an increased challenge in education throughout all schools locally and nationally.

“Our goal at Lehighton is and will continue to be preventative education and deterrence,” Howland said. “Offenders receive discipline consequences and a required vaping education course in conjunction with our Carbon-Monroe-Pike Drug and Alcohol counselor.”

According to the Truth Initiative, a nonprofit public health organization, there have been 2,051 reported cases of significant lung illness and 39 deaths as of Nov. 5, 2019, due to vaping.

The 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey data show that 34.2% of current high school e-cigarette users and 18.0% of current middle school e-cigarette users use e-cigarettes on 20 days or more per month. In 2019, 11.7% of high school seniors said they vape every day.

Howland said many parents who the school speaks with are unaware of the dangers or how many types of e-cigarette devices are being sold.

“By educating our community,” she said, “we can continue to set the tone that there is zero tolerance of putting harmful chemicals into your body.

“Knowledge is power and important in dealing with how schools and communities combat vaping.”