The purpose of this study was to understand and describe students’ perceptions on their academic performance and overall well-being due to electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) usage in their adolescence. The overarching question was: How do e-cigarettes impact students’ academic performance and growth? Additionally, the researcher wanted to investigate the prevalence of e-cigarettes and the factors that are positively and negatively impacted due to the use of these tobacco and nicotine products. Existing research indicates that e-cigarettes have overtook cigarette use among youth as the most commonly used tobacco product (Pesko, 2018). Furthermore, usage rates increased significantly from 2017 to 2018, with a 48% increase in e-cigarette use among middle schoolers and a 78% increase in e-cigarette use among high schoolers (Merianos, 2019). This was a qualitative study with a phenomenological research approach. Participants included 26 college students from various colleges in the New England area. Data was collected through various methods, such as observations, surveys, and interviews. The findings of this research study suggest that e-cigarettes are extremely common among adolescents, the negative impacts outweigh the positive impacts, and the majority of students regret using these tobacco and nicotine products. These findings will add to students', teachers', families', and administrators' understandings' regarding the prevalence of e-cigarettes and encourage them to implement and enforce prevention and intervention strategies.
Please enjoy this video of me reading the Epilogue of my Thesis, in which I describe my passion for this topic of study.
"Our worst fears about vaping are beginning to come true."
Jack Coleman Jr., M.D., FACS
"We were literally going to be the first generation not addicted to nicotine ... And then they made it taste like cotton candy and everyone is vaping and addicted to nicotine."
Sophie, College Student 2019
"Vaping is leading youth into nicotine use and nicotine addiction, not away from it."
Dr. Richard Miech, University of Michigan