Lafayette, Ala. (WTVM) - We hear vaping is not nearly as harmful to you as smoking regular cigarettes. For years, tobacco companies have been pushing out cigarettes, knowing the harmful and life-lasting negative effects it has on your body. That’s when vaping became popular. The only problem, experts say, is that it’s just as deadly.
The most important thing to do, is educate yourself on what happens to your body when you vape.
“The issue and the problem is what nicotine does to the body and how it impacts youth and adolescents before the age of 25, and that’s what our kids don’t really understand,” said Chambers County Superintendent Casey Chambley.
Tim Shoemaker speaks nationwide on what the Surgeon General of the United States calls the “Vaping Epidemic.” He spent time in law enforcement and says he sees the negative effects and wants to do something about it.
“As a police officer, saving lives happened every so often, but I noticed very quickly as a police officer that almost everything I was dealing with revolved around alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs, you know? The fallout and I wished I could get ahead of the problem,” said Shoemaker.
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Shoemaker says the substance containing Nicotine in Vape pods is a thick syrup-like substance, which is ingested as a vaper, but returns to that syrup-like form and stays that way inside your lungs. Adrian Holloway lives in Lafayette and works with youth in the area. She says the seminar is something all students and parents need to hear.
“I do hope that it resonated. Even if it’s just with one kid, one student that makes the choice to get rid of their vape today, I think this presentation will have been worthwhile,” said Holloway.
“We can help instill the protective assets in our kids to help them resist a little bit longer, get them to that coveted 18 or older mark, and I think we can make some ground up on this,” said Shoemaker.
Another seminar with Shoemaker will be held at Auburn University on Tuesday at 6 pm in the auditorium of the Student Activities Center.
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