Catie Dull/NPR

(I said it below too, This picture is such a poor choice, although it totally fits the hamhandedness of the article.  “Look, mom, I am doing what I’m supposed to”)

Or, however, the kids put it.  This from NPR:

Piper Johnson is one of the more than 1,000 people diagnosed with vaping-related lung disease this year. The first cases were reported this spring, and the outbreak continues to grow.

The cause of the outbreak is still not clear. Well, yeah, it is crystal-clear NPR (in fact, it is in the next sentence).  It is from altered or black market vapes that contain THC.  These were substances that were homebrewed and sold on the cheap without thought.  Ok, go on NPR:

The majority of patients acknowledged vaping THC, and many used a type of counterfeit vapes called Dank Vapes. But, this outbreak has also called attention to the wider epidemic of teens vaping nicotine.

Ok, geez, are we flawed today NPR? Is the A-Squad at breakfast, or are you just lost here? How does a substance that is not currently legal (nationally) compare to one that is, and how do you draw that conclusion?

I am not a fan of the legal substance (nicotine, if you need a scorecard). I think it is a problem, a HUUUGE problem with long-lasting health implications.  But this is a false equivalence. Oh look, I vape THC, so now let me hit that nicotine?  The whole thing makes No. Fucking. Sense.

No it should not be available to kids in any form.  So that you do not miss my overall point; Vaping nicotine or anything else should not be available to children period.

Johnson says she first tried vaping during her sophomore year of high school. By senior year, she was hooked.

“I was vaping Juul brand, off-brand pods, some disposable vapes,” Johnson recalls. Some weeks, she’d go through two to three Juul pods a week. (Each pod contains about 20 cigarettes’ worth of nicotine — that’s a pack). “It’s highly addictive,” she says.

Jesusrollerbladingchrist NPR, I have seen a high school freshman write better articles for their school newspaper.  Ok, enough, let me cut to the chase (I know, finally).

Piper, I know you did something foolish.  There are millions of us old folk that are glad there weren’t cameras or the internet when we were young to catch our mistakes on and document them ad nauseum.  Be an advocate against teen vaping, excellent point, and then fucking stop.  Yeah, nicotine is terrible; that’s why they banned smoking and cigarettes all those years ago…wait they didn’t?  Hmmm.

Neither is good

But, Piper, we were vaping THC, weren’t we?  Quick question, what medical condition are you getting your THC vape for, and was this from a dispensary? (she is from Illinois which has a medicinal law until January 1^st and then is gains a recreational law) Look, I am not the narcs, but it seems to me like you are trying to continue to cover your bad behavior with this activism.  They really could have taken a better picture of you at the protest, you know one without the, “See mom, I am protesting this as you said. (but let me post this to Instagram)”

Ok, sarcasm overload for me.  NPR wrote a horrible article with a convoluted message that should be a  warning about black market vapes with untested constituents in them to anti-vaping/anti-nicotine.  Yeah, no kid should be doing it (insert medical reasoning that we all know by heart).   I guess Juul is an easy target, though, since “truth” seems to be bound not to bring the truth about vaping.  The American Legacy Foundation, who is at the heart of “truth,” uses funds from the government settlement against the tobacco companies. From Legal Zoom:

It all started back in 1998. As part of a $206 billion settlement, major tobacco companies like Philip Morris agreed to pay for advertising campaigns to educate consumers about the dangers of tobacco. Not only were they barred from advertising their own products or sponsoring events geared towards teenagers, but they also had to contribute millions annually to support these anti-smoking ads in every state.

But, there is a catch. And it’s a big one.

The settlement mandates that these anti-smoking ads cannot personally vilify or attack the tobacco companies. Under the terms of the settlement, violating the clause can pose big problems for any anti-tobacco group. Just ask the American Legacy Foundation.

Easier to vilify Juul (not part of the agreement).

Ok, get it the hell right.  The lung issues with vaping are being caused primarily by Vitamin E acetate.  You heard it here first on the podcast from a person that understands the compounds. Let’s make this an issue of product purity, and not about anything else.  Yeah, kids should not smoke and Piper, you’re in Colorado, so do better where you get your THC vapes from…or try edibles.  Everyone’s lungs need the rest.

Please be the kind of person that your mom and your dog think you are.