77 percent of Morton East High schoolers are vaping—and 41 percent are vaping marijuana.

According to “Important Facts About Nicotine” by Terry Martin he states that “Nicotine is at least as difficult to give up as heroin. The side effects of nicotine can affect the heart, hormones, and gastrointestinal system.” In another the website called “Marijuana Factcheck” states that “Teen vaping of cannabis nearly doubled from 2018 to 2019. A national survey asked teens if they had vaped marijuana in the last month and found 12th graders – 1 in 7, 10th graders – 1 in 8, 8th graders – 1 in 25. The increase in use has been faster than almost any other substance tracked in the past 45 years.” In a random survey of 100, 41 out of 100 said yes that they vape marijuana. 36 out of 100 said yes that they vape nicotine and 23 out of 100 said that they do not vape at all. 

Our lead dean Mr. Depa, our PDEPA, had some words to share with us. 

“Yes, I would say that vaping is on the rise. Two years ago, we did not really have a problem with it but this year it has doubled. What we have seen students mostly use is THC pens.  When we collect this illegal substance, we make sure police are informed and parents are called. Once the police are informed, they take the illegal substance, and we make sure that student is immediately suspended or taken to ACL. When a student is caught selling illegal substances, they are automatically expelled,” said Mr. Depa. 

As Mr. Depa shares his wise opinion about illegal substances, students have different opinions and different views on it. 

“There was no reason I wanted to try it. What I usually prefer is Marijuana. The first time I tried it was when I was 13 but when I started doing it constantly it was at age 15. I have vaped in school and yes, I’ve been high at school all the time,” said an anonymous senior.  

As this anonymous senior got addicted to marijuana at a young age just to try it other students use it to release stress. 

“MMH, I started smoking because of all the stress I had, and I would do it because it calms me down. Whenever I do it, I feel less stress, I don’t feel overwhelmed, and I don’t think I have an addiction, I started like a year ago. I don’t smoke in school or been high in school, because it’s stupid and why would I want to risk of getting caught,” said an anonymous senior.  

As some students see it as a stress reliever some students see it as a deadly chemical. 

“I want to be healthy and not be infected by the chemicals. I think people do it so it can make them feel good, I guess, I don’t like it I think it is a dumb thing to do, there is no benefit to it. It is bad, I feel like it doesn’t do anything. I feel like people prefer marijuana more because it’s more natural and it affects you more than nicotine. They smoke more marijuana,” said a sophomore, Evelyn Miranda.  

As these students have different views, they both agree on how dumb vaping/smoking is. 

“I don’t vape because I was never interested in vaping and I see it as a dumb thing to do, I think it’s bad essentially that do it. People usually do it for reasons like feeling calm or relaxed, it affects their anxiety and how they feel. Marijuana because it kind of makes you feel like I guess what’s the word relaxed more than nicotine,” said a senior, Noel Banda.