Vaping trend grows in popularity

Editor's note: An earlier edition of this story said vaping was allowed on Ball State's campus. It is not and the story has been since updated. 

An alternative to smoking has started to gain popularity among young people around college campuses.

Vaping involves inhaling tobacco-free water vapor through a vaporizer, or vape pen. Although the vapor can contain different amounts of nicotine, the user can choose how much they want.

Vaping is not allowed on Ball State's campus due to its tobacco-free policy, under the e-cigarettes section.

Bryce Chudzicki, a sophomore telecommunications major, started vaping when his friends offered to let him try, and he ended up enjoying it. Originally only a few of his friends did it, but now he said almost everyone he knows has a vape pen.

“I like it for the taste,” Chudzicki said. “And I think it’s so easy. Like for cigarettes you have to go somewhere else if you want to smoke them, but vaping you can do in your house.”

E-cigarette usage has more than doubled among U.S. adults from 2010 to 2013, according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). In teens, it has tripled to about two million users.

Chudzicki said he likes how his vape pen doesn’t set off the smoke alarm or stink up his house.

He attributed the growing popularity to the simplicity of it — and the good flavors.

Tanks come in flavors like Cola Gummy, Kool Melons and Blueberry Custard Waffle, and hold vapor, or e-liquid, which is inhaled through the vape pen. 

Although the American Lung Association has concerns about dangers that may be associated with vaping, a study done by Public Health England reported e-cigarettes and vape pens are about 95 percent less harmful than smoking a cigarette.

As smoking cigarettes leads to one in five deaths in the U.S., according to the CDC, having a healthier alternative could lead to major improvements with public health, according to the American Vaping Association.

Though studies have shown vaping is healthier than smoking, the American Lung Association is still concerned with it becoming a gateway to smoking regular cigarettes. However, Public Health England disputed this as well, saying there is no evidence of e-cigarettes or vaping leading to smoking cigarettes.

Chudzicki said he wasn’t sure if there were dangers associated with vaping when he started.

“It’s so new, you don’t really know the chronic effects yet,” he said. “I don’t think it’s addicting though.”

Liz Harrington, a sophomore dietetics major, said while she doesn’t vape, she does do hookah, which is similar. Hookah involves flavored tobacco and charcoal in a bowl.

She smokes hookah socially with her friends — that’s really the only reason she does it.

Although studies have shown e-cigarettes and similar products are healthier than smoking, Harrington said either way it still isn’t that healthy.

“[People] think since it’s not a cigarette it’s not going to be dangerous for me, but you’re still putting smoke into your lungs,” she said. “Whether it's nicotine or not, you’re inhaling smoke, so there’s going to be problems in the long run if you do it too much.”

Read More

Self-immolation outside Manhattan courthouse where Trump trial is adjourned

By Staff Reports / 36 minutes ago

A person, who was later identified as Max Azzarello, self-immolated outside of the Manhattan courthouse where former president Donald Trump is on trial. Azzarello was extinguished and rushed away by emergency services. He is in critical condition at Weill Cornell Medicine - Burn Center, according to a press conference held by the New York Police Department (NYPD).

---

The closure of the historic Mark III Tap Room impacts Muncie’s LGBTQ+ community.

By Meghan Holt / 6 hours ago

 Patrons of the oldest gay bar in Indiana reflect on how it affected their lives.

---

A 40-year alliance: Brian Dudley is a staple with Wapahani baseball

By Zach Carter / 7 hours ago

Brian Dudley spent 40 years as the Wapahani varsity baseball coach and finished his career with an 828-320 record.