EARLY YEARS: Addiction prevention experts are sounding the alarm about new findings when it comes to vapes

ROANOKE, Va. (WDBJ) - For the past two years, VCU’s Center for the Study of Tobacco Products has partnered with dozens of schools across Virginia, testing confiscated vapes.

Nancy Hans, executive director of the Partnership for Community Wellness, is helping to spread the word about the study’s findings.

“What they’re finding is these things have so many other really bad products, like you’re vaping mold. You’re vaping all these things that shouldn’t be going into your body,” says Hans..

According to the study, many vapes contained a combination of THC and chemically- altered additives.

“There are “street chemists” out there, and they don’t care. They don’t care what they’re putting together, because it’s all about the money," says Hans.

This VCU study from the 2023-2024 school year includes findings from hundreds of vapes.

Among the main takeaways, researchers found THC in 15% of the vapes confiscated from middle and high schools, and one out of three from elementary schools.

Most vapes, 86 of them, were acquired from a friend, while 55 were bought by the students themselves.

“None of this should be available nor sold to underage, and that’s 21 and up,” says Hans.

She and other prevention leaders are pleading with vape store owners to follow the law and not sell to kids.

Education and awareness are also key to preventing addiction among our youth.

‘There’s so much coming at them in this world that we really need to help them sort of slow down and learn what are the right decisions to make to stay healthy," says Hans.

For more information about the study, click here.