A minute ago, vaping was seen as a great way to quit smoking. But now we know that almost a third of teenagers who use e-cigarettes are smoking cigarettes six months later.
And now that we know more, too, about how unhealthy and risky vaping itself is, we agree with the Kansas State Board of Educations unanimous vote this week to encourage school districts in the state to ban e-cigarettes and all tobacco products.
The kind of ban theyre suggesting would apply, just as it should, on all school grounds, in all school vehicles and at all school activities. It would apply not only to students but adults guests, volunteers and employees as well.
The state board is also right that the next step has to involve helping those already addicted to quit, which is not easy.
This is a full-fledged epidemic, and action cant come fast enough: Nationally, vaping among high school students shot up 78% from 2017 to 2018, according to the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey.
Two vaping-related deaths have been reported in Kansas, and two in Missouri. School districts should enact comprehensive bans before that number climbs higher.
