Jake Radermacher
Equinox Staff
Several students and experts agree that underage vaping is becoming a major issue for Keene State College students.
Kevin Williams, currently holds the interim director of campus safety job at Keene State College, discussed his views of underage vaping.
Williams said he believes that specific marketing has led to the rapid use of electronic cigarettes among young college students.
He noted that roughly one-third of people under the age of 21 vape on a regular basis and that percentage applies to Keene State College as well. Williams stated, “Most of the people vaping on campus are under 21.”
Williams expressed he feels that vaping is a major issue for minors at Keene State. “It is not legal for them and he does not want students to catch a case,” stated Williams.
To help end the vaping epidemic at Keene State College, Williams suggests that leaders of the organizations and clubs on campus must get the message out. He pointed to the fact that emails do not work and lecturing them on vaping will not help either.
Campus Safety deals with vaping on campus on a regular basis, but the students can see the effects of it first hand, whether it is walking to class or strolling down Appian Way.
A senior, whose name has been withheld, said he believes that social media led to the rapid use of electronic cigarettes.
He believes that vaping is a major issue for minors because, “nicotine is not good and Juuls are misused.” He recommends “cold turkey” or the process of cutting off nicotine completely to end the vaping epidemic.
Another senior, whose name has been withheld, believes “roughly 60 percent of people under 21 vape on a regular basis and this percentage applies to the underage Keene State population as well.”
She stated that vaping is a major issue for minors at Keene State because vaping costs a lot of money and students do not need to vape. She later added that vaping is fun for younger children but it is practically useless. She suggested that there needs to be an alternative created for vaping like “a cool flavor of gum.”
A Keene State college junior, whose name has been withheld, said he believes that the rapid use of electronic cigarettes is driven by the fact that it “looks cool” and it appears to be a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes.
He believes across the country that roughly “15 to 20 percent” of under 21-year-olds vape on a regular basis and that 35 to 40 percent of underage Keene State students vape on a regular basis as well.
The junior student stated that he does not believe that vaping is a major issue for minors at Keene State because he is unfamiliar with the health aspects, although they are better than cigarettes.
His general opinion on vaping is that it is a good alternative for smoking cigarettes and he recommends that “raising the age will not end the issue [because] the minors still have connections”.
Students can help figure out how many other students on campus vape because it surrounds them every single day, but the Wellness Center at Keene State understands the lifelong impacts.
Melissa Langill is the senior counselor and coordinator of Alcohol and other Drug Prevention and Education at Keene State College while being an adjunct professor in the public health department. Langill said she believes that “specific marketing towards a younger age group” as well as promoting the belief that vaping is a “cessation” or the end of cigarette smoking habits.
“[Research is being done] to explore if it is an effective tool to quit cigarettes, but it is reasonable to assume that the increase is related to students attempting to choose a healthier and less risky option,” Langill explained.
Langill stated that she is unaware of the statistics regarding how many underage students at Keene State College vape on a regular basis but she pointed out later that roughly “five percent of middle school students and 20 percent of high school students vape.”
Overall, Langill’s general opinion on vaping is that it is a major problem. “When 26 people have already died from vaping related illnesses, it should be taken more seriously,” Langill stated.
“There are many ingredients in vape juice that are still unknown to scientists,” Langill stated.
The Wellness Center staff recommends that students seek help if they are addicted to nicotine.
Jack Radermacher can be contacted at jradermacher@kscequinox.com
