In recent years vaping has become increasingly popular among high school and middle school students, raising concern about how these young individuals are obtaining such devices. Despite age restrictions and regulations, students are still managing to get their hands on vapes.
One common method is purchasing vapes online. While yes there are age restrictions, some websites may not be stringent enough, allowing underage users to bypass these restrictions. For websites that have high security teenagers use fake identification to make these purchases.
A Majority of students get vapes from older friends, family, and other students. People of age will be in bulk and sell the vapes to younger students. This peer-to-peer distribution is difficult to monitor and control. To add on, some convenience stores and vape shops can also be sources, especially if the staff is not frequently checking IDs. Although most retailers follow the law, there are instances where age verification is overlooked.
Lastly, social media and online marketplaces provide platforms for the students to exchange information for such purchases. This makes it challenging for authority to track and regulate.
Addressing this issue should be taken into consideration sooner and quicker. Stricter enforcement of age verification, education on the risks of vaping, and open communication between parents, schools, and students are needed now more than ever.
