County Hosting Seminars About Dangers Of Vaping
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Left, Suffolk Legislator William “Doc” Spencer, left, said during Monday’s seminar that it is a misconception that vaping is safer than smoking. Right, Suffolk Senior Public Health Educator Bonnie Anderson led Monday’s presentation, addressing the addictive nature of e-cigarettes. Long Islander News photos/Janee Law
By Janee Law
jlaw@longislandergroup.com
Suffolk politicians and local school officials are looking to bring an end to the somewhat new, “cool” trend of vaping.
The Suffolk County Health Education Department is hosting seminars at local school districts, including at Harborfields on Monday, that focus on the negative impacts of using electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).
Suffolk Senior Public Health Educator Bonnie Anderson led the presentation, addressing the addictive nature of e-cigarettes, how the product comes in fruit and candy flavors that are designed to be attractive to adolescents and how the unregulated product may contain inconsistent levels of nicotine and other chemicals.
Harborfields Superintendent Francesco Ianni said there are misconceptions regarding the impacts of vaping that he hopes to set straight.
“We want to try to give students all the tools so they make the right choices and be good role models for their parents, other students or their younger siblings,” Ianni said.
Timothy Russo, principal of the high school, added that since vaping is a new trend the dangers of it are unknown to many.
“Our goal is to treat our kids like adults and get them as much information as possible so they can make the right decision,” Russo said. “We know what the right decision is but sometimes for them, making sure they understand why we think it’s the right decision is important.”
Suffolk Legislator William “Doc” Spencer (D-Centerport) also attended the recent seminar to discuss both the long- and short-term dangers of vaping.
“The kids are getting a false message,” he said. “Companies are spending millions of dollars advertising vaping as being cool, and they’re trying to make it fun with flavors.”
Spencer continued, “Now there’s this sense that vaping is safer, and so a lot of kids are doing it — they’re doing it in classrooms and school grounds.”
Not only are the effects of vaping dangerous, he said, but it is “absolutely illegal for anyone to vape on school grounds, including teachers and parents.”
Spencer added that the mission is to have an ongoing program within districts across Suffolk to make sure teens are getting all of the information possible.
He plans to bring the seminar to several other local high schools, including Huntington, Northport and Walt Whitman.
Other Suffolk officials are also joining the effort.
The Northport-East Northport Drug and Alcohol Task Force partnered with Suffolk County Police Department Community Relations Bureau to bring awareness to district parents regarding e-cigarettes and vaping with a presentation scheduled for Wednesday night, after deadline.
