Mason Measure Would Bring Vaping Education to Schools

GURNEE, Ill. – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, recently introduced a bill that would require students to be taught about vaping as part of their sixth through twelfth grade health education curriculum. Mason’s House Bill 3202 would amend the state’s Comprehensive Health Education Program to add e-cigarettes to a list of health subjects that teachers must cover in the classroom.

“Over the past several years, we have seen a startling rise in the popularity of vaping among teenagers,” Mason said. “As the number of young people using e-cigarettes climbs higher each year, it’s critical that we are educating teenagers on the health risks associated with these products.”

A 2018 survey from the Pew Research Center found that 22% of 10th grade students and 27% of 12th grade students reported having recently used vaping devices at the time the survey was taken. The center reports that those numbers have risen by eight percentage points and 11 percentage points respectively since 2015. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, vapor produced by e-cigarettes can contain cancer-causing substances, volatile organic compounds and heavy metals.

“E-cigarettes are often discussed as being a safe alternative to traditional cigarettes, but we know that isn’t the case. Vaping devices can cause serious, long-term lung damage as well as nicotine addiction. It is vital that we’re presenting young people with factual information on vaping devices so they fully understand the risks involved before choosing to use them,” Mason said. “With more than a quarter of high school seniors now using e-cigarettes, incorporating vaping education into our school curriculum is more important than ever.”