When I was a freshman in college, I remember two of my friends saved up and purchased an expensive vape. I thought it was silly because my understanding was that vaporizers were for people trying to quit smoking cigarettes. Both of my friends were vehemently against cigarettes, so it seemed hypocritical of them to use a vaporizer. In my mind, that's like chewing Nicorette or wearing a nicotine patch if you're not a smoker or attempting to quit. Fast forward two years later and I can't walk across campus without seeing at least one person using a Juul, the newest trend in e-cigs.

I've found that most of my generation is very opposed to smoking. Unlike our parents, we were taught from day one that cigarettes are "cancer sticks" and something we should avoid at all costs. I was surprised to see my friends, who I know would never touch a cigarette, proudly hitting their Juuls on social media. While Juuls and other water vaporizers are "smokeless" and don't contain tobacco, they do contain nicotine, the same chemical found in traditional cigarettes. Meaning, they're not the "safe alternative" that many think them to be. According Doctor Lester Hartman, who spoke with Boston 25 News, "smoking one Juul is equal to an entire pack of cigarettes."

My sister is a freshman in high school and revealed to me that this phenomenon is not limited to college students. I was horrified when I heard my sister recount a conversation she overheard between her classmates, who expressed that they couldn't get through the school day without "hitting" their Juul because they're "so addicted."

While I am an advocate for adults being allowed to make their own decisions when it comes to using substances, but I definitely don't feel the same way when it comes to children. Schools and the media should address this issue in the same manner that they do cigarettes because many don't understand the health risks associated with products like the Juul.