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National Expert On Teen Vaping To Visit Boise For Sept. 23 Talk

CRAIG MITCHELLDYER / AP IMAGES

Hundreds of cases of vaping-related lung disease were reported across the U.S. last week. Two were in Idaho. Now, a local organization is bringing a national expert on the risks of teen vaping to Boise.

 

Bonnie Halpern-Felsher is a professor and developmental psychologist at Stanford University. She will speak during the evening of Monday Sept. 23 at Boise State about the risks of e-cigarettes and vaping. 

United Way of Treasure Valley is organizing the event with several other agencies. Samantha Kenney of United Way says it’s important for the community to understand just how widespread teen vaping is. 

“I think parents need to be educated on the fact that this can touch any kid,” she says. “All kids are exposed to it.”

And for her, it’s personal. “I have a daughter who has a lot of friends that are good, outstanding kids that have been sucked into this vaping craze because they don’t see it as harmful.”

The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare reported in 2017 that almost half of teens in the state have tried vaping. But Kenney says that percentage may have gone up in the last two years

Halpern-Felsher’s research focuses on understanding health-related choices among teens. Her talk will cover how teens make these decisions and perceive risks.

For more information on the event, go to United Way of Treasure Valley's website here. Spots to the event are limited, so to sign up, click here.

 

For more local news, follow the KBSX newsroom on Twitter @KBSX915

Copyright 2019 Boise State Public Radio

Molly Wampler is a newsroom intern at Boise State Public Radio. Originally from Berkeley, California, she just graduated from the University of Puget Sound in Washington state. There, Molly worked for her university's newspaper but is stoked to try her hand at and learn all there is to learn about radio journalism.

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