Montgomery County has launched a free program to reduce teen vaping with a $100 reward to anyone who turns in their vape, writes Jennifer Joyce for FOX 29 Philadelphia.
The concept originated with Montgomery County Prevention Coordinators Jennifer Gehret and Katie Kucz, who noticed area colleges had vape buyback programs and created a high schools version.
“It’s a free program,” said Gehret. “It’s helping kids live healthier lives.”
Gehret and Kucz noted that vaping is a growing problem in many schools nationwide
“It’s so easy,” said Kucz. “It seems like it’s a trendy thing to do. It’s not just flavoring. It’s an addictive substance that you’re putting into your body that has a lot of other harmful chemicals.”
Latasha Pope, a mom from Jenkintown, understands the problem, having first caught her 15-year-old son vaping two years ago. A former nicotine cessation clinical specialist, Pope spent significant money on counseling and life coaching, which failed to help, but the vape buyback program worked. Now she is encouraging other parents to get involved.
“Our kids don’t understand long-term effects of vaping, so it’s our job to educate them and to support them and remind them that it’s not acceptable,” she said.
Read more about the program helping to combat teen vaping at FOX 29 Philadelphia.
