Ana's Story

Ana, Arizona

I'm a scientist at Arizona State University and also the mother of a 17 year old. I sent a brilliant, vibrant, intelligent 14 year old girl to high school. She has ADHD and was at risk for drug use, but we didn't learn about her ADHD until a few months ago, and it was too late. She became one more victim of vape sellers at school, and now she is fighting addiction to vaping nicotine and THC. I can tell you the indescriptible pain of a parent whose child's potential has been stolen for the benefit of substance traffickers. Not just pain, the huge cost of addiction for the child, the parents, and society. Those who profit from nicotine (to start with) are very effective ensuring they have customers captive for life. I also have a 6 year old boy, and now I am scared of him being at school and that he may fall prey to them too. In Arizona it is estimated that 50 % of high schoolers vape nicotine and THC. FIFTY PERCENT. Why are we all letting this happen?

The youth vaping epidemic was created by JUUL and the rest of the vaping business, and is addicting and harming children in my community and around the country at alarming rates.