Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes), battery-powered devices that stimulate tobacco smoking, are becoming increasingly popular in high schools; however, the lack of a laws restricting those under 18 legally from purchasing e-cigarettes may contribute to their availability.

“[I’ve seen people smoke e-cigarettes]; this is like asking me if I’ve ever had a gym class or stayed after school,” said freshman Sam Kipple.

Last year, a survey from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded only 4.7% of high schoolers had tried e-cigarettes. In 2013 that number rose to 10%. In addition to that, 42.4% of teenage smokers said they used flavored e-cigarettes.

Freshman Somia Pati said, “I think that some students will want to smoke e-cigarettes but they shouldn’t.”

These e-cigarettes have no known long-term effects, but their short-term effects do not seem very harmful. An experiment conducted at the University of Athens showed that non-smokers’ airway resistance rose from 182% to 206%, current regular smokers’ airway resistance rose from 176% to 220%, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma patients had no noticeable rise in airway resistance.

Junior Isaiah Wilson said, “It’s not good because it’s […] priming [teenagers] to be okay with cigarettes when they become adults.”

Some of the many reasons why these cigarettes are becoming increasingly popular in schools are that there is no smell left behind because there is no smoke, e-cigarettes come in many different flavors (which are calorie-free), and the lack of tobacco makes it legal for someone of any age to purchase.

The CDC is working on proposing regulations for the e-cigarette and will have them in the foreseeable future.