The CSUN campus is closed due to the Covid-19 virus, but On Point reporters are working on stories about how the virus has affected students and their families throughout the city of Los Angeles, and we’ll be posting those stories as soon as we can.
Proposition 64 passed on November 8, 2016 in the state of California. As a result, adults over the age of 21 can possess and privately use marijuana. In 2018, commercial sales and production of the substance also became part of California’s economy. It has become a rapidly growing industry, but the new laws have not erased the confusion and controversy around the substance, and how it can be legally and safely used.
Last year, the Los Angeles Times reported that California has the largest legal marijuana market in the world, with more dispensaries, recreational users and consumer choices than ever before. But the new legalities did not erase the past completely.
“[Many people] thought that prior convictions they had would be cleared,” said attorney Lisa Mattern, who specializes in marijuana cases. Thousands have been overturned in California, but the process is not simple or automatic, and the debate over when and whether to overturn those convictions continues.
Mattern also said law enforcement officers still face challenges when pulling over drivers who are under the influence of marijuana. NBC Los Angeles reported last year “an increase of up to six percent in the number of highways crashes in states where recreational use of marijuana is now legal, compared to states where the same use is illegal.”
Mattern said when an officer smells marijuana in a vehicle, the DUI investigation begins. But the substance can remain in a person’s body long after the effects have worn off, making the results of field tests problematic. The varying levels of THC in cannabis products also deliver mixed results when consumed. There are no standardized limits or tests yet, but data does show that marijuana impairs driving.
“[Police] don’t have the tools [to test for it],” Mattern said. “They don’t have any field sobriety tests.”
Aside from the legal issues, there are also health issues remaining for many recreational users. Despite a common belief that they can’t, some marijuana users do develop dependency, and, according to Healthline.com, can exhibit “mood swings, a lack of energy, and cognitive impairment.” when they stop using.
“There’s an assumption that because it’s legal, it means that there are no risks that come along with it,” said CSUN University Counseling Services Drug and Alcohol Liaison Dr. Steve Silver. He said a lot of users are misinformed about the effects of the drug.
New methods of consuming marijuana, like edibles and wax, can alter the time it takes for effects to be felt, and the magnitude of those effects. “It can be quite unsettling,” Silver said, when a reaction is stronger than anticipated. Levels of THC can vary greatly. The risk is ever-present to become dependent on the substance, or experience discomfort while consuming it.
California is among 21 states that have legalized the recreational use of marijuana. But the future of legalization remains uncertain due to the lack of support from the federal government, a growing range of properties and strains, and inevitable comparisons to alcohol regulations in the nation.
Producer: Alex Guerrero
Anchor: Brittany Smith
Social Media Editor: Brittany Smith
Reporters: Alex Guerrero, Cindy Rodriguez and Brittany Smith
Many college campuses across the nation are ill-equipped to deal with the surge of students seeking help for mental health issues.
According to the California Faculty Association, the ratio of students to counselor should be about 1,000:1. But of the 23 California State University campuses, only three meet this recommendation, with most campuses having more than 2,500 students to one counselor.
“Every place could always use more staff, and we have a desire to support people as best we can,” said Dr. Steve Silver, from CSUN’s University Counseling Services. Silver said CSUN counselors are readily available to students who are in crisis. Still, the average student may have to wait two weeks to book a first appointment.
Depression, anxiety and social anxiety were three of the most common issues reported by college students. They face many of the same problems as their predecessors: exams, new environments, peer pressures. They also face some new issues: uncertainty about the future, job opportunities, and financial burdens on a larger scale, in the wake of the Great Recession and with the increase in student debt nationwide.
Between 2009-2015, the number of college students seeking on-campus counseling rose by 30 percent. Many colleges and universities are struggling to keep up with the demand, meaning many students have to go elsewhere for help.
But those students who do seek treatment off campus often find that the lack of counseling services is not just a college problem. “It can definitely get to a point where it feels there aren’t enough of us,” Associate Marriage and Family Therapist Amani Williams said. “It can definitely get hard [for us] to see everyone at the same time, and try to be effective still.”
Once students find treatment off campus, they still have to pay for it. Therapy sessions can cost upwards of $150, and many students find they just don’t have the funds necessary to pay for them.
“Money should never be a barrier to getting help, or to getting any mental health treatment,” Clinical Director of ACT Health and Wellness Dr. Megan McDonald said. “There are so many resources for those people who don’t have insurance, or those who don’t have a lot of money.” Many practices don’t charge a co-pay, and others offer patients the opportunity to pay on a sliding scale, where the cost is dictated by the patient’s ability to pay. McDonald said there are resources out there, if students know where to look.
One silver-lining, as more students flock to campus counseling services, is the de-stigmatization of therapy. “I think people are seeing therapy more for what it is, which is the ability to get support from a caring individual who is trained to help support people,” Silver said. “People are experiencing therapy as a more grounded thing, instead of a mysterious thing that happens behind closed doors.”
This is a growing trend not just among college students, but in the larger population as well, as more Americans feel comfortable talking about their mental health with family, friends and on social media.
CSUN students may have to wait a little longer for the situation to improve in the CSU. But if they are in need of help, they can find resources for group therapy sessions, workshops and individual services at Bayramian Hall.
Moderator: Manny Luissi
Producer: Manny Luissi
Anchor: Liliana Ramirez
Social Media Editor: Lilibeth Mireles
Reporters: Bea Barros, Manny Luissi, Lilibeth Mireles, Preston Mitchell, Liliana Ramirez and Candice Romero
Self expression through fashion is not a new concept, but Harajuku enthusiasts have taken the style of J-fashion a step further than self expression, creating a community in which they feel protected and inspired.
Once a month Harajuku fashion enthusiasts parade along 1st street in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo, in bright colors and bold patterns for what is called Harajuku Day. Some participants wear dresses like those that might be seen on old fashioned dolls, while others choose a more gothic-influenced look.
“Just being around other creatives, and being in a space that is very positive, gives you room to grow,” said co-organizer of the Valley Tea and Cake Society, Theodore Danielle Doncaster.
In the late 1970s, Tokyo’s Harajuku District became a center for young people’s fashion retail. FRUiTS Magazine, founded in 1997, became a platform for those who wanted to express themselves through their wardrobe. But more than 20 years later, this form of self expression is not only for individuals, but also for bringing a diverse group together to build a positive and uplifting community.
“The driving force of going out and putting everything together is community,” Harajuku Day Organizer Monique Morentin-Guzman said. “You want to be able to feel like yourself around other people.” She said Harajuku Day is all about expression through fashion, and about putting on this style of clothing, as a kind of ‘armor for the soul’.
Harajuku Day participants, and even those called “Harajuku Lifestylers,” who choose to dress this way daily, said they feel it is a protection from the negative aspects of society, and a chance to express their ideal self. They said Harajuku fashion can also be seen as a platform for people to rebel against fashion norms, especially those defining gender norms.
“The idea of Harajuku fashion is very punk rock,” Doncaster said. “It came out of a need to rebel against society’s expectations, especially for women.”
The Japanese Fashion meet-up in Los Angeles’ Little Tokyo started in 2015, and has become a safe haven for those who desire to go out in fully coordinated outfits and be a part of a positive environment. “It is a good, friendly, welcoming, and wholesome environment,” regular participant Jasmine Rose said.
Some misconceptions still surround Harajuku Day enthusiasts. Participants said they are often asked whether they have jobs, and how they can take part in such a bizarre past time. Participants said they respond that they do have normal jobs, and normal lives, and that this is how they express themselves. “I feel like the expression of this is my soul,” Doncaster said. ” I am wearing it as armor. It is a way of embracing your ideal self.”
Harajuku Day fashion is becoming a popular way to express one’s personal style, and Harajuku fashion is becoming more normalized in American culture.
“It’s a hobby and it’s a lifestyle,” Morentin-Guzman said.
Moderator: Nicholas Gargiulo
Producer: Christian Pineda
Anchor: Cristal Morales Rodriguez
Social Media Editor: Ashley Hawn
Reporters: Wiam Dahbi, Nicholas Gargiulo, Ashley Hawn, Karina Gutierrez, Cristal Morales Rodriguez and Christian Pineda
When it comes to the way women’s sports are embraced and viewed around the world, there is much room for change and progression.
Recently, women’s leagues like the WNBA and the NSWL, as well as the U.S. Women’s National Soccer Team saw their players take legal action to get better treatment and pay. The WNBA created a contractual binding agreement (CBA) with the players for better wages, more sponsorship and marketing, and better travel conditions for players. The USWNT sued the U.S. Soccer Federation on claims of purposeful gender discrimination.
Empowerment in women’s sports aligns with the empowerment of women in society. Stars like Megan Rapinoe, Serena Williams, Elena Delle Donne, and Symone Biles are popular figures, and more recognized for their athletic abilities than past female athletes. With the rise of social media, women’s sports has proven to be of interest to many, but even when women’s sports draw large crowds and generated more revenue, women athletes are still paid less, and advertised and marketed less than their male counterparts. Less than four percent of all sports marketing is around women’s sports. When female athletes are marketed, the message is often more about their looks than their athletic ability.
“There were a lot of times when I was told that I appeared masculine,” All-American Tri-Athlete Erikca Wilson said, “not just by males, but by women who did not compete.”
“The body is not a particularly masculine thing,” CSUN Communication Studies Professor Ronda Picarelli said. “The body is a human entity.” But, she said, female athletes are often scrutinized for their muscular and defined physiques. The stigma around women’s bodies that are conditioned for sport is related to the misogyny of mainstream media.
Men don’t get this kind of comment about their bodies, Wilson said. “You hear this a lot with female athletes, and that’s very disparaging, for young female athletes that are coming up and looking at the way that the ‘standard, mainstream female body’ is supposed to look, as opposed to the female athlete.”
“You can’t tell that underneath [women athletes’] jerseys, they’re muscular,” Youth soccer coach Jocelyn Castillo said. “But when they go out to the ESPYS or some type of award, and you see them in a dress, then you get those comments like ‘oh she looks like a man, she looks like a man’. But she can’t perform well when she doesn’t have that muscle to body them out.”
The stigma and negative perception around female athletes’ bodies also play a role in the way young girls and women see themselves as athletes. This, along with the low wages, and the lack of marketing to make women’s leagues successful, may steer young girls away from pursuing sports seriously. According to the Women’s Sports Foundation, at age 14, girls quit playing sports at twice the rate of boys, and by 17, over 50 percent of girls have given up their sport. The study says “67 percent of the girls said they felt society doesn’t encourage girls to play sports.
Women’s sports aren’t as popular as men’s for many reasons pertaining to advertising and marketing of women’s leagues. But there are still some who think the women’s sports may need some adjustments to make them more entertaining to watch. In softball, the fields are smaller to allow for more home runs; in women’s boxing, there are only ten rounds; in golf, women tee-off from a closer tee. Many have argued that basketball should follow suit—and that women should play on a lowered rim. Those who would like to practice their swings may consider setting up a virtual golf course.
WNBA and two-time MVP Elena Delle Donne said if she could change one rule in the WNBA, it would be to “lower the rim”. She said lowering the rim isn’t just about the dunk; it’s also about the future of the game. Many feel that lowering the rim would cheapen or degrade the women’s game, because some women have been playing successfully on 10 foot rims. But Delle Donne said when they shortened the 3-point line for women, it didn’t cheapen the game.
Loyola Marymount University Women’s Basketball Coach Taja Edwards agreed, and said there is not much to lose by trying the rim at 9.5 feet.
Youth coach Castillo said she noticed that lowering the rim makes a difference in youth sports. She said she coaches in a league with a girls basketball team and a co-ed basketball team; the co-ed team plays on 9-foot rims, and the girls teams play on 8-foot rims. She said most of the young girls couldn’t shoot on 9-foot rims, so they lowered them, but in the co-ed league, they kept the rims at nine feet.
“Would people want to pay money to come watch something that they can dunk on themselves?” former college athlete Arielle Green asked. But LMU Coach Edwards says lowering the rim in the WNBA and women’s basketball, from 10 feet to 9.5 feet, would hardly be noticed by spectators, but would make it easier for more athletic women to get above the rim.
Still, rule changes don’t address the underlying issue of gender discrimination, and the refusal to properly market and advertise women’s sports to make them profitable, and easier for consumers to find and watch.
“There’s strength in numbers,” Wilson said. She said women’s sports needs advocates—male athletes and owners who will show their support during women’s games, and use their platform to open up the space for women in their respective sports.
Green pointed out that the media make sure to feature the many celebrities who show up at NBA games, like Snoop Dogg, Spike Lee and Jack Nicholson. She said that would benefit women’s sports if it had the same coverage. Late NBA star Kobe Bryant was one male athlete who showed a lot of support for women’s sports and women’s professional teams.
Lastly, women’s sports are often scheduled at times that make it difficult for an audience to tune in. Castillo said the Women’s World Cup Final was scheduled the same day as the Copa América final; she wanted to watch both games, and she knew other fans had the same dilemma.
She said it comes down to owners, leagues and federations communicating better, to give women’s sports an equal opportunity to be supported by fans.
Moderator: Brittany Smith
Producer: Cindy Rodriguez
Anchor: Amari Martin
Social Media Editor: Sayaka Yoshii
Reporters: Alex Guerrero, Amari Martin, Cindy Rodriguez, Brittany Smith and Sayaka Yoshii
After sharp criticism, the California State University Board of Trustees has pushed back until 2022 its vote on a proposal requiring a fourth year of quantitative reasoning for incoming high school students. Implementation would now occur in 2027.
In his justification for the plan, Timothy White, outgoing CSU Chancellor, said, “the nature of work in the future will require more quantitive reasoning. We want underserved students to be competitive in the future of work.” However, the proposal drew push back from such groups as the Campaign for College Opportunity, The Education True — West, the Los Angeles Unified School District as well as Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis.
“There was no data, and there was not a study done on how this proposal might impact our students,” said Sasha Renée Pérez, Student Engagement Manager for the Campaign for College Opportunity. To better understand how these changes would affect graduating seniors, the Campaign for College Opportunity conducted its own research by examining data from the class of 2018. “The results indicated to us what we expected,” Perez said. “[The plan] affected low-income students, black students and Latinx students the most.”
Loren Dittmar, a high school academic counselor in Simi Valley, said high schools would need time to prepare in order to add a mandatory fourth year of mathematics to their curriculum. Dittmar previously worked as a high school counselor in Georgia, where four years of math is already mandatory to get into college. “I think that once you’ve implemented the structure to make it work, it could be a good thing, because you’re raising the standard,” he said. “But without having the support to make sure students are prepared, then, well, we don’t want to lose people along the way.”
The current requirement for CSU eligibility is three years of mathematics that includes Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II. Proponents of the new plan cite CSU enrollment statistics suggesting that 93 percent of admitted students have already taken a fourth year, but critics suggest that requiring a fourth year will make it even more difficult for students to obtain a university degree, particularly those in districts receiving less funding.
CSUN Mathematics Professor Katherine Stevenson was co-chair of the CSU Quantitative Reasoning Task Force. She said her team’s report was a broader examination of quantitative reasoning in the California education sphere, and included representation not just from CSU and UC campuses, but also industry and government professionals. The task force made four suggestions to the trustees, one of which was chosen.
“It’s important to point out that there were some differences in what the task force was recommending, and what ultimately the CSU proposed,” Stevenson said. “Where we differed was that we said ‘if it takes you four years to get through your existing math requirement, that’s ok with us.’ The CSU required an additional year.”
In the end, most critics agreed that the proposal was an incomplete, and, in some sense discriminatory fix to a larger problem of funds and educational support. For now, the CSU is back at the drawing board as it attempts to address issues of low graduation rates and employment opportunities for its graduates.
Moderator: Liliana Ramirez
Producer: Lilibeth Mireles
Anchor: Bea Barros
Social Media Editor: Emmanuel Luissi
Reporters: Bea Barros, Emmanuel Luissi, Lilibeth Mireles, Preston Mitchell, Liliana Ramirez, and Candice Romero
In 2018, more than 17 million minimally invasive cosmetic procedures and surgeries were performed in the United States. This represents a 2 percent increase from the year before. But prices for these procedures can be high, and as result some people opt for the black market, risking permanent damage to their bodies.
“A lot of these medical spas that are popping up just want the end goal of making money,” said Doctor Amir Parvinchi. “So they will place RN’s (Registered Nurses), who are not supervised, for injecting people, and there are a lot of complications.”
Breast Augmentation is the most performed cosmetic procedure, costing around $3,800. Black market practices can be far cheaper, using industrial silicone and watered down silicone, leaving women with potential disfigurement, and even death.
“Everything that we use is FDA regulated,” said Nurse Practitioner Esmeralda Rodriguez. “There are a lot of illegal things out there: filler and botox things that look like the real thing, and are not.”
Botox is a toxin that is safe when injected in small doses. It is important to visit a certified dermatologist or a plastic surgeon to receive a safe amount of botox.
“One thing that should be a red flag [to consumers] is ‘botox banks’,” said Bella Skin and Body Medical Aesthetics Director Natalie Dempsey. “Some are real, and the botox is actually real, but many are not. If you are getting it at a price that seems too low, it is [probably] too good to be true.”
Non-invasive cosmetic procedures are safer than invasive surgical procedures, and can produce the same result for patients. But non-invasive procedures are not permanent, and last, on average, about three months.
“Before [these non-invasive procedures were available], people used to spend a lot of money and get facelifts, which were very expensive,” Parvinchi said. “Some of these [cheaper non-invasive or minimally invasive] procedures are kind of replacing those. You also reduce the risk of infection and bleeding astronomically when you compare it to surgery.”
More and more people are leaving the country for cosmetic procedures to save money. Brazil is now the plastic surgery capital of the world.
“Even in America, there are loopholes [for practitioners to get around licensing rules], and we are highly regulated by the FDA,” Dempsey said. “A lot of different countries don’t have these regulations. They will inject you with silicone.”
The most common side effects from procedures are hematoma, which is a pocket of blood that looks like a large bruise, and infections.
“Several months ago we had a lady come in who had a big abscess in her buttocks area because she had this Brazilian lift,” Parvinchi said. “Whether it was done in a non sterile fashion [or not], it caused a big infection in her backside, which tracked down to her lower extremities”.
The global cosmetic procedure industry is expected to be worth almost $44 billion by 2025.
“I feel like it’s become so popular,” said Rodriguez. “[It’s] more popular than going to get a facelift or… a chin implant.”
Moderator: Carol Santamaria
Producer: Karen Ruiz
Anchor: Ali Bash
Social Media Editor: Karen Ruiz
Reporters: Ali Bash, Zach Ferber, Ryder Mcconville, Karen Ruiz, Carol Santamaria and Yarazeth Tapia
If you feel as though there has been a school shooting every week in 2019, then you are not exaggerating. In 46 weeks, there have been 45 school shootings, according to CNN. With more than 180 school shootings in the last ten years, student safety has become one of the first priorities in American education today.
One approach is to say that students should be prepared for these incidents with seminars or drills, but there is a concern that that experience can be traumatizing for students of all ages.
“We don’t want to go too overboard, ” Safe Kids Inc. vice-president Scott Coleman said. “[We don’t want to take measures] that make schools feel like a jail.” Coleman said having a healthy school culture is as important as physical security. Safe Kids Inc. is a group of law enforcement officers and educators committed to preventing violence while empowering students and educators. Safe Kids Inc. employs former police officers, like Coleman, to try to bring safety and learning together in harmony.
“That’s what I left law enforcement to focus on: equipping students with age-appropriate resources to deal with violence,” Coleman said. “We want students to understand that violence is statistically unlikely to find a student at school. School is still a really safe place to be.”
Another aspect of the school shooting crisis is providing better mental health care to students. Discussions of mental health always begin after every school shooting, with many wondering if something could have been done to prevent it, and others asking how to help those affected by them.
“Do we know every student’s name, face, and story?” Dr. Loretta Whitson, Executive Director of the California Association of School Counselors, asked. “Do we have enough support staff, like school counselors, to help teachers identify students with prevailing issues? I would say we don’t have that, and that is extremely important.”
The recommended ratio for students to counselors is 250:1, which might still seem to be a large number of students for one counselor to keep track of. In California, there aren’t nearly enough counselors to begin to help the students who need them.
“It’s identifying [problems] early, and building relationships,” Whitson said. “Our ratio [in California] is nearly three times the average, with 622 students for each counselor, so it’s very difficult to develop a relationship.”
The demand for school counselors is at an all-time high. Every Town for Gun Safety reports more than 100 gunfire incidents near schools in the United States this year, including incidents where no one was harmed. These incidents have resulted in 26 deaths.
“We don’t want to tell students to fight,” Coleman said. Safe Kids Inc. came up with a system to help students before and after a shooting occurs: H.E.R.O. (Hide, Escape, Run, Overcome). “We would rather tell them to overcome, both physically and mentally, in the aftermath, as they’re dealing with trauma.”
Some states have started using school shooting drills to help students be ready in the case of a shooting. Both Whitson and Coleman agreed that these drills can be extremely beneficial. The key element is to make sure that the drills are performed appropriately to avoid traumatizing students.
The trauma caused by school shootings lasts longer when it goes unnoticed or unspoken. Now more than ever, students nationwide require the resources to empower themselves. Students also need the resources to feel heard in the chaos of growing up. While prevention of school shootings seems almost impossible, what we can control is how we respond as a community to those events.
Moderator: Jenny Almanza
Producer: Jenny Almanza
Anchor: Tamie Benitez
Social Media Editor: Vivian Rayos
Reporters: Jenny Almanza, Tamie Benitez, Damian Gordon, Vivian Rayos and Joe Willeford
Dating apps have become huge over the last few years, and they really have changed the culture. Many say it is easier to find matches and love through online dating, rather than having to meet someone in person, especially in the age of the MeToo movement. People who don’t have time and money to go out can save so much time and effort. However, some people lie and exaggerate on their online dating bios, so some feel it can be hard to trust online daters.
“[Dating apps] really broaden the spectrum for what’s possible for people,” dating and relationship expert Jenna Ponaman said. “You know that the dating world is no longer about what is just in your community…There literally are an infinite amount of possibilities, so that’s really great. It promotes interracial marriages and couples… and it’s really a place where people can feel a little more courageous about what kind of person they want to be, or how they can express themselves.”
But Ponaman also said these apps may allow people to think that they don’t have to settle down or look for serious relationships. “People think, ‘well, I can be so brave, and I can also be so frivolous’,” she said, “‘and I don’t have to commit to anything if I don’t want to’… [Scrolling through dating apps] is really no different than flipping through a magazine, shopping for a shirt.”
Online dating can also be a quick way to make sexual transactions only, rather than taking the time to develop intimacy and love. Tinder is a popular app for this specific reason, but those who want more may have to put in more effort.
“People are still not building their relationship skills,” Parc Foundation counselor and instructor Kasey Carter said. “People aren’t asking the right questions before they express their interests. [For example,] do you know what their values are from their dating profile? Probably not. Do you know how they treat a waiter or a waitress? Because that shows you a lot about their character…You do know they like hiking, they do yoga, they are trying to be a vegan, and that they love their dog. [That’s good information], but that doesn’t help you have a relationship that is healthy and fulfilling.”
Lying has been an issue for online dating since it started. “Cat-fishing” is a problem on online dating sites around the world, and experts advise users to be very careful. But many people exaggerate about their age, profession, hobbies, ethnicity, height and accomplishments. Even users who aren’t criminals may not present themselves truly, or show who they really are.
“I’m all about honesty and authenticity,” psychotherapist and author Kelli Miller said. “I will have some clients who will put up photos from ten years ago. [I tell them] that’s not going to work, because then you’re setting yourself up [for disappointment]. I’m all about just being honest and upfront. If you have kids, say you have kids. Don’t hide it.”
Dating experts said dependency on cell phones and online technology may prevent two people from have a true connection. Relationships are about meeting, not chatting online. Cell phones may cause people to go out less, and some people don’t know how to interact, or how to approach strangers, without seeming sexist or creepy. The younger generation, in this new cell phone era, may not have developed proper manners, which are key to starting successful relationships. But Miller said even a phone call is better than judging someone only from an online dating profile.
Ponaman said she encourages her clients to go on several dates with people they meet online, to try to get to know them. She said people should experiment, and learn to look for partners with the traits they want. They should not just go out on dates because they matched with someone online, and then feel like they have to become attached to them immediately.
Miller, Ponaman and Carter all stressed that people must love themselves first, before they can love another.
“As a coach, I would encourage men and women to date more,” Ponaman said, “and that can be whatever they interpret it to be. But the reason for this is when we isolate to one person, we do get attached a lot faster and lot more, [but only] on that superficial plane. Whereas, if you have other options, you feel a little more free to say ‘well, if there are a few things I don’t like about this person, then that is okay, because I can do more research, with these other people, because I still have other options’.”
Moderator: Mareo Ahmir Lawson
Producer: Leslie Estrada
Anchor: Emmanuelle Roumain
Social Media Editor: Rudy Aguado
Reporters: Rudy Aguado, Leslie Estrada, Mareo Ahmir Lawson, Matt Roth and Emmanuelle Roumain
One of the biggest news stories this year has been the ongoing health concerns, issues, and even deaths related to vaping. The cause of these health issues remains unknown, but another question is how did vaping turn from the healthier alternative to cigarettes into a public health crisis?
In October, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors placed a ban on e-cigarettes with flavors other than menthol and tobacco.
“E-cigarettes are the first exposure many teens are experiencing with flavored products, and that alone appeals to youth to try [them], and become hooked,” Jessica Galura, an intern for the CSUN College of Health and Human Development, said. “The amount of social media influencers, and marketing that is targeted to the youth, is really what’s getting them right now.”
The Centers for Disease Control report that the death toll linked to vaping is currently at more than forty. Despite this, and the thousands of reported illnesses, some consumers continue to ignore the risks of these products.
“It is about educating, collaborating, developing new programs to help people quit,” the American Lung Association’s Marsha Ramos said. “We are trying to go into school districts and provide some education, as well as limit access to smoking and vaping, because it is quite addictive.”
Dr. Tony Kuo of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health agreed that education is one solution to this ongoing crisis. “In the last three years, the e-cigarette probably went under the radar in terms of regulation,” he said. “I think, for the Public Health Department, I think our number one priority is we need to educate the public.”
Nicotine is the component in vape products that causes addiction, as well as many other health issues. However, some of the reported illnesses have been linked to products containing THC. When addressing addiction, individuals have sought support from a wide range of rehab centers in Oregon.
“If you look at the recent CDC statistics,” Kuo said, “almost 55 percent of people who have been hospitalized use both THC and nicotine based products. The point is, we don’t know what exactly is causing the illnesses, but we know it is all related to e-cigarettes.”
Experts say nicotine vapes can be a gateway to THC among young people. “It started off with nicotine,” Galura said. “But it eventually led to THC concentrate vapes, while a lot of the incidents that school administrators tell us about are about THC vapes.”
“About 70 percent of the cases nationwide are associated with THC or CBD,” Dr. Chidinma Chima-Melton of UCLA’s Health Division of Pulmonology said. “Right now, I don’t think we have enough data to say what the best options are to stop this crisis.”
Moderator: Joe Willeford
Producer: Jenny Almanza
Anchor: Vivian Rayos
Social Media Editor: Damian Gordon
Reporters: Jenny Almanza, Tamie Benitez, Damian Gordon, Vivian Rayos, Joe Willeford
