By Delaney Smith and Melanie Parrish
Formaldehyde is a chemical used to embalm dead bodies. It is used in plywood and some glues, and is a known cancer-causing agent. This dangerous fluid is also a component in both traditional cigarettes and the newer “e-cigs.”
In 2007, cigarette companies came up with a new alternative to smoking conventional cigarettes. These new products are called electronic cigarettes. Studies have shown that in three out of 10 e-cigs, the levels of formaldehyde come close to the amount in a normal cigarette.
This new alternative has been getting mixed reviews from users and nonusers alike. With electronic cigarettes not having been thoroughly tested yet, it is more of personal opinion on how harmful these products can be to people who smoke them and people around them.
“I don’t think it will hurt people in the long run because they are not harmful like normal cigarettes are,” said senior Timon Stermer.
Sophomore Tristan Barnes disagreed.
“I do believe that these are still harmful because of the nicotine addiction,” said Barnes.
E-cigs still do contain nicotine, which is a very addictive substance, so there is an age restriction on who can buy these. People have to be 18 years old or older to buy e-cigs, just as if they were buying traditional cigarettes. However, this does not mean that it is difficult for a minor to obtain one.
“It’s easy to get ahold of an e-cig because half of FC’s senior class is already 18 and some of them buy them for their younger friends without a problem,” said Stermer.
With these being fairly easy for FC students to obtain, there have been reports of students smoking electronic cigarettes in classrooms while the teachers are gone, in the hallways, and in bathrooms.
“We treat them like a tobacco product. So as of this year, if you get caught in possession of or smoking an electronic cigarette it will result in one day in-school suspension and one day out,” said assistant principal of student development Joe Voelker. Not all students agree with equating e-cigs with traditional cigarettes, though.
“Cigarettes are harmful to you and others. E-cigs aren’t. The penalty should be less stiff,” said Stermer.
One main concern with the anti-electronic cigarette groups is the different flavorings available, such as bubble gum and cotton candy, which are designed to target a younger crowd. According to Health News from NPR, the percentage of students in grades 6 through 12 who have ever used any type of cigarette has increased from 3.3 percent in 2011 to 6.8 percent in 2012.
“Teens are more likely to like the flavor and smell. . . so they may pay more attention to them,” said sophomore Saide Martinez.
“We had several kids caught with these last year, it seemed like we were dealing with them on a regular basis. Since the consequence was raised, we haven’t seen near as many electronic cigarettes in school in the last three or four weeks,” said Voelker.
Still not thoroughly tested by the FDA, there is no way to know for sure if electronic cigarettes are as bad as the traditional.
“Until it is proven that [electronic cigarettes] are not as bad as normal cigarettes, I would not say 100 percent that they are, although there’s always a chance,” said sophomore Zach Yagle.
