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NC Attorney General Josh Stein
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein says he became determined to fight underage vaping and electronic cigarettes usage when his own children were teens. Stein met with a dozen Alexander Central High School students and nearly a dozen staff members Monday to discuss how to tackle the problem of teen vaping and social media addiction.
Stein’s office planned the visit with Superintendent Dr. Jennifer Hefner after a December letter she and the school board sent asking him for help to curb vaping. Stein is known for a nationwide lawsuit that led to a $48 million dollar settlement for North Carolina and that forced Juul, an electronic cigarette company, to change marketing practices. He says when his own son came home with a Juul pod, he was concerned.
“The sad reality is that nobody knows what’s in these products,” said Stein. The students and school staff were forthright with the Attorney General about the problems that come from vaping. Senior Nate Dahlstrom blames area businesses for making it easy for teens to buy vapes. “I know every convenience store. I can buy any nicotine device, pouches at all those shops,” said Dahlstrom.
Stein believes targeting the stores selling vapes to those underage is a game of “whack-a-mole.” Once one avenue is closed, another pops up for students to get the devices. He pointed out federal law says vapes and tobacco should not be sold to anyone younger than 21; however, the state of North Carolina enforces for 18 and younger. He wants the Food and Drug Administration to set uniform rules for vape companies.
“They look at you as creatures to exploit to make money,” said Stein.
He spoke about the Juul lawsuit. “The fact is this company was trying to overtake your lives,” declared Stein.
Principal Jacob Lail and his team told Stein chasing down students who may be vaping takes a lot of administrators’ and counselors’ time. He especially worries about the health effects. “We’ve had to call emergency services for kids who are out of breath,” explained Lail.
Lail and his team say on a good day they can still deal with 25-30 vape incidents. Unfortunately, some students and even their parents believe vaping helps the child’s anxiety.
“It’s hard for you to go to a hard class. Like if you’re not good with math, you’re like I need to hit this vape, so I can understand, but it’s making it worse,” says Senior Emma Coley.
Junior Makayla Crosbie said some students have no one to ask for help. “Mental health is getting extremely bad in my generation. Everyone I know who has gotten hooked on heavy drugs because they could not take it,” said Crosbie.
Stein also asked students for their solutions to beat social media addiction. Junior Emily Haas told him she realizes social media eats up a lot of her day. “It’s a waste of time. I don’t realize how much time goes by with just 15 second videos,” said Haas.
Counselors talked about how texting and Snapchat are detrimental.
“Probably 75% of what we deal with is something texted. They are devastated and it’s 8AM. Snapchat has a community option,” said Megan Calhoun. “Students can join and can post on it all day. They can make fun of somebody and the whole school sees it,” she maintained.
Stein and 41 other state attorneys general have sued Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram. The suit alleges the company designs its platform to be addictive. The students back up his claim. “I didn’t realize. I’ve had social media issues in the past. Due to how pervasive social media addictions are, you don’t realize you have it,” said Dahlstrom.
Stein told the group about schools where students voluntarily gave up their cell phones. “Kids who did it were happier. They were talking in the cafe with other students” instead of being on their phone, he explained.
A group called Common Sense Media says 97% of students use their phones at school. Two of North Carolina’s biggest districts Wake and Charlotte Mecklenburg are limiting access to cell phones at school. Some schools have the students turn their phones in at the beginning of class.
“We’ve not instituted a policy here but you’ve got me thinking,” said Lail.
Stein says districts with limits to cell phone access have seen academic benefits.
“The students didn’t revolt. The parents were like ‘You are not going to take my kids’ ability to communicate with me’”, he said.
Coley realizes both vapes and social media can have negative effects for teens.
“With social media you can get really addicted to that just like with nicotine,” says Coley.
While the group did not have any concrete suggestions, students appreciated Stein’s points and suggestions.
“It is very obvious to me that he is really concerned as a father, as a parent about all of us and he wants to help us just as much as our parents and all of our administration wants to help us with the issues,” says Dahlstrom.
Students said they are grateful for Stein’s visit.
“Here in Alexander County we’re such a small town. You don’t think of a big government representative like the attorney general coming and talking to little ole us. It’s very interesting. Honestly, I feel very valued throughout this conversation. For him to be such a big personality and be as important as he is he was very good at including us all and making us feel heard,” says Dahlstrom.
Stein says schools need more support personnel. He also expressed hope that more North Carolinians will be able to get mental health help through a state expansion of Medicaid.