LEE COUNTY, Fla. — Lee, Charlotte and Collier counties rank pretty high among high school students who vape in Florida.
According to a new study by the Florida Department of Education, more kids are vaping statewide. And Southwest Florida students fall within the state’s average with about 20 percent of students vaping in high schools.
The number of vape users has doubled across the state in recent years, even with tobacco use going down.
The number of vape users is even higher among youth suffering from depression. The study shows they’re twice as likely to vape and four times as likely to use cigarettes.
Researchers at Stanford University said e-cigarette companies are boosting the levels of nicotine to keep up with the popular brand Juul. The company started with five percent nicotine in their products. That study shows competitors started increasing nicotine amounts to as high as seven percent. And researchers on that that study said e-cigarette makers can mask the unpleasant taste of nicotine as they boost it’s concentration in products.
Lee County Schools said more students are getting in trouble for vaping this year. They said they’ve seen up to four times the offenses this year compared to the 2016 - 2017 school year.
