Nebraska lawmakers make bill aimed to stop teen vaping
SOUTH SIOUX CITY, Neb. (KCAU) – Nebraska lawmakers are working on a bill to push the age limit for e-cigarettes from 18 to 21.
The FDA has called teen vaping an epidemic nationwide. Nebraska lawmakers are now working on a bill to combat that trend. Even the owner of a South Sioux smoke shop see’s it as a problem.
“It wasn’t supposed to be something that was cool or fun to do or really flavorful. It was supposed to be a sensation device to help us older people that have had that addiction for all these years to actually quit so that we can live longer, healthier lives,” said Jeremy Sadofsky, the owner of Gypsies Smoke Shop.
The bill, LB 149, aims to change the age limit for buying electronic cigarettes and e-liquids from 18 to 21. The bill would also ban the use of e-cigarettes in bars, restaurants, and workplaces.
“If you can restrict the kids from getting it, it will decrease the amount of schools that have it obviously, but I think we need to have some more education out there for them as well,” said Chad Cleveland, school resource officer for South Sioux Police.
School administrators at South Sioux Middle School say most kids they catch say they don’t see e-cigarettes as being harmful, and that’s why they do it.
“Those students that are caught are asked to attend a drug and alcohol class offered by Heartland Counseling and just again to reiterate the substances and making positive healthy choices with their lives,” said the assistant principal Chris Erickson.
Kids have been caught smoking in bathrooms, even the gym, at South Sioux Middle School. The assistant principal says in most cases, the parents had no idea their kids vaped.
“Sit down and talk to your student you know they are the ones that have all the information. A lot of things can be found online and on the internet, but it’s about educating your kids and talking to them and having open lines of communication and I think that’s really important,” said Teresa Copple the school nurse for the South Sioux High School.
Siouxland Cares is hosting a town hall meeting on underage drinking and vaping on April 15. It will be at Bishop Heelan High School at 6 p.m. The idea is to educate parents about the dangers of vaping.