By Lauren Azrin
This November, the WPHS SADD club (Students Against Destructive Decisions) is promoting Healthy Lung Month, a campaign dedicated to raising awareness about the risks posed by smoking and vaping.
Often times, vaping can seem harmless or "safer" than traditional cigarettes, but the truth is that vaping also poses a huge risk. Not only does it cause damage to the lungs and overall health, but it makes teens five times more likely to smoke cigarettes. Most teenagers don't smoke cigarettes yet, so it is important to prevent the start of the problem, as cigarettes are still the leading cause of preventable death in the world.
The club is also bridging their campaign with our current global crisis, highlighting that people who vape are 5-7 times more likely to get COVID-19, because vaping compromises the lungs and immune system.
The club is bringing awareness to these topics through a series of posters being sent around the school, and they will continue this initiative throughout the year. They also want to raise awareness about the accessibility of support available at WPHS, and make clear that students shouldn’t be afraid to ask for help from teachers, guidance members, and other staff.
Students that have questions, need help quitting vaping, or want to talk about any other issues like stress or anxiety, can email Valerie Sutton, SADD club advisor and WPHS Student Assistance Counselor, at valeriesutton@wpcsd.k12.ny.us, or send her a Remind at @b4f933k. All contact will be confidential. Don't be afraid to reach out for support!
Anyone is welcome to join the SADD club; they always welcome new student ideas and initiatives! Meetings are on Wednesdays at 12:30 PM, and the Remind code is @66chc7.