In the past few years, a new way to smoke has become increasingly popular among not just smokers, but high school teenagers: electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes). Niles North High School recently addressed the concern of students using e-cigarettes in school and the consequences that will follow if a student is found in possession of one.

The use of e-cigarettes has become increasingly popular among teenagers. According to statisticbrain.com, 10% of high school students try smoking an e-cigarette and 23% of high schoolers reported smoking, in general, in the past month.

As the popularity increases, the number of e-cigarettes being brought on the Niles North campus also increases. However, that does not mean that D219 allows the use and possession of e-cigarettes on the school campus.

In his email to the students and staff of Niles North, Dr. Keith Robinson, assistant principal, said, “We have had reports of e cigarettes being brought on school campus.  This behavior is a violation of Board Policy.”

When asked why students are increasingly using e-cigarettes, Henry Brown, Dean of Students at Niles North, said, “It’s becoming more and more widespread because of the popularity and easy access they have.”

Since the popularity of e-cigarettes has grown so fast, there is currently no official ordinance law in Skokie preventing minors from possessing an e-cigarette. However, D219 has consequences for students who are found in possession of e-cigarettes.

When asked what is done if a student is found with an e-cigarette, Brown said, “We take it and throw it in the garbage and since we can’t issue an ordinance ticket to appear in court, we call home and inform the parents. But, if they are caught smoking it in the school building, then they would receive the same consequence as if they were smoking a cigarette, which would be a suspension.”

Not only are e-cigarettes problematic for schools, but they are also problematic for users’ health. In recent studies, e-cigarettes have been found to contain solvents that can be linked to dangerous health conditions and illnesses such as diabetes and cancer.

According to Janet Raloff’s article, “Health risks of e-cigarettes emerge”, on sciencenews.org, “E-cigarettes deliver high levels of nanoparticles, the researchers found, which can trigger inflammation and have been linked to asthma, stroke, heart disease, and diabetes. And the solvents can transform into something even more worrisome: carbonyls. This group includes known cancer-causing chemicals, such as formaldehyde, and suspected carcinogens, such as acetaldehyde.”

In a comment on the health risks of e-cigarettes, Robinson said, “I think to the student user, they’re like, ‘Yes, this is something I can slip in and get away with’, but we’re not sure they’re certain what they are doing to themselves.”

Check out a feature, from the North Star broadcast, on e-cigarettes and Niles North below.