By Jayden W.
On a bus ride to an educational event, I watched in disbelief as an elementary school student pulled out a nicotine pen. He couldn’t have been more than ten. Who gave it to him? Who failed to stop him? It was a sobering reminder that addiction often starts early, long before kids fully understand the risks.
More teens and young adults than ever are turning to nicotine and THC to cope with overwhelming emotions, not realizing how quickly a habit can spiral into addiction. According to a Truth Initiative survey from August 2021, 81% of young people aged 15 to 24 who vape say they started to reduce stress, anxiety, or depression. But studies show that nicotine abstinence worsens mental health issues, creating a cruel cycle of dependency.
What begins as a temporary escape frequently turns into a long-term battle with anxiety, depression, and dependency, hijacking not just young people’s minds but their futures. But the issue goes beyond use; it starts with access. So what do we do now?
For every 200 students in primary school, there should be at least 1 counselor. The need for counselors isn’t just for adolescents; college students need counselors as well. On a college campus, for every 400 students, there should be at least 1 counselor. According to a ASCA grant-funded research study, school-counselor-to-student ratios may be optimal at 1:250, but grade level and socioeconomic factors of a district require close consideration.
Government officials and school boards must allocate more funds toward hiring trained counselors to meet the needs of students. If school districts don’t have enough funds to hire these essential workers, they should partner with other organizations to help cultivate a student body that feels comfortable talking about their challenges.
Though I’ve never used nicotine or THC, I understand the dangerous pull. When life gets hard, we reach for what soothes us at the moment, even if it damages us later. For me, it was food. During a season of deep depression, I turned to overeating for comfort. A moment of joy would quickly turn into guilt, and the weight of my emotional pain would return even heavier. That experience taught me how easily a coping strategy can become a harmful cycle.
If addiction roots itself in childhood, it’s far more likely to persist into adulthood. And if we’re going to stop nicotine and THC from hijacking young minds, we must start by having the hard conversations. It’s now or never.
Resources:
The Princeton Summer Journal 