The number of students reporting that they vape is on the rise, and so are the health complications associated it, which can be deadly. There have been two recent fatalities in Georgia since September. 

While no vaping-related illnesses have been reported in Fayette County, youth and teens are using the products, and some have been caught using vaping devices at school. Students and their parents need to know the products that are in the vapors they are inhaling, and why they are risking their health, even their lives, when they vape.

To bring attention to what has been dubbed as a public health crisis, Fayette County Public Schools will host a forum on the dangers of vaping at the Whitewater High School auditorium on November 12 from 7-8:15 p.m. Guest speaker Dr. Jared Cavanaugh from the Georgia Poison Center will lead the discussion.

The forum is for students in grades six through 12 and their parents, it is free and open to the public. No registration is required.

The school system has been working to make sure that students have the facts about the dangers of vaping. At the beginning of the school year, brightly colored posters created by the school system, titled “The Truth Behind the Vapor,” were placed on walls in high traffic areas of all middle and high schools, and on the fifth grade hallways of all elementary schools. The poster not only outlines the dangers of vaping, but also notes the signs of vaping as well as vaping prevention and cessation. All attendees will receive a miniature copy of the poster that can be pinned to a refrigerator or bulletin board, or used as a bookmark for future reference.