This past week, Gateway Health classes were visited by Jenny Hunt and Michael Regenelli, representatives from Tobacco Free For a Healthy New Jersey’s initiative,  Don’t Get Vaped In. This program is designed to teach New Jersey’s youth how detrimental smoking can be to their health. The project stems from the alarming 75% uptick in teenage reports of e-cigarette use. Jenny and Michael led a Kahoot game that aimed to educate the students on the dangers of e-cigarettes in a lighthearted, fun way. 

The Kahoot discussed the reasons teenagers smoke, the nicotine and other dangerous chemical levels contained in e-cigarettes, why e-cigarettes attract teens the most, and much more. The students became very involved in the presentation, asking and answering thought-provoking questions, making connections, and sharing possible solutions to the teen smoking epidemic. 

As someone who attended one of these seminars, I believe that exposing all students to this program is very beneficial, as most teens who vape don’t truly understand the risk factors. As Jenny explained in the presentation, contrary to popular belief, “A pod in a vape is equivalent to an entire pack of cigarettes.”