This op-ed column provides a platform for readers to share unique perspectives on the issues that matter most. It’s a space for thoughtful commentary from people like you, who bring unique insights and experiences to the conversation. Each article represents one personal window into a complex world.

 

By now, many have seen a boy sneak a puff in the shul hallway. Some have heard rumors of vape deals going down behind the beis medrash. But few realize the scale of the crisis—until an elementary school child approaches a stranger on the street and casually asks, “Can you buy me a vape?”

 

That disturbing encounter is far from uncommon. But it’s only a small glimpse into a community crisis hiding in plain sight.

 

The vaping epidemic has made its way into our streets, our yeshivos, and our shuls. It’s affecting even the best boys from the most solid homes who are at the top of their shiur. If you think your child hasn’t been exposed to vaping, think again.

 

Boys are picking up the vapes—and the addiction—on the street, at yeshivah, and in camp, where vapes are often sold peer-to-peer. While some  downplay the concern—”It’s better than drugs,” “Boys will be boys,” “At least it’s not alcohol”— vaping, far from being a harmless phase, is turning into a deeply entrenched health and behavioral crisis. And it’s hitting younger and younger.

 

At PHC Medical in Boro Park, manager Duddy Balsam has been on the front lines of the fight against this dangerous habit. Their clinic administers a Pulmonary Function Test (PFT)—a simple, non-invasive breathing test that reveals how much damage has been done to a person’s lungs.

 

The results are chilling.

 

“Today, we had two boys,” Balsam said in an interview with The Voice. “One was 14; one was 16. One tested at 52 percent lung function. The other? 33 percent. That’s the capacity of an old man with chronic lung disease.”

 

Even more disturbing, Balsam explains that some teens don’t even realize what’s happening to them. Headaches, mood swings, an inability to focus—many of these symptoms trace directly back to nicotine dependency. One boy experienced debilitating headaches every Motza’ei Shabbos, only to realize they were withdrawal symptoms from his vape.

 

“There’s a chemical in the brain called dopamine,” Balsam explained. “It controls mood. Vaping floods the brain with nicotine, which unnaturally spikes dopamine. The brain stops producing it on its own. The result? Emotional instability, mental fog, and addiction. These kids are frying their brains.”

 

Many still believe the myth that vaping is the “lesser evil.” But mounting evidence suggests the opposite.

 

“I switched from smoking to vaping seven years ago, and I regret it,” one local resident said. “Because you can do it anywhere and everywhere, you end up more addicted than with cigarettes, and it’s much harder to quit.”

 

Unlike cigarettes, vapes are discreet and virtually odorless. Kids can use them in bathrooms, bedrooms, even in shul—without leaving a trace. And while cigarettes often smell, alerting parents, vapes offer no such warning signs.

 

Worse still, some vape products are laced with dangerous chemicals. The National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine and the US Surgeon General have warned about secondhand exposure, and the dangers aren’t hypothetical. They’re measurable, and they’re showing up in our community.

 

Despite growing concern, denial remains rampant. Some still treat vaping as a teen fad instead of a serious health hazard. “The kids think it’s a joke,” one parent noted.

 

“There needs to be a communal standard,” Balsam emphasized. “Addiction is addiction. If we ignore vaping because it’s not as bad as other things, we’re letting these kids destroy their health and minds in silence.”

 

The efforts at PHC Medical, especially when partnered with advocates like Yonoson Schwartz in Boro Park, are already making waves. Through awareness campaigns and lung testing, they’re helping teens see—with terrifying clarity—the damage vaping is causing. Some are so shaken by the test results that they quit cold turkey and toss their vapes in the clinic trash can.

 

But that is not enough.

 

Parents must accept that vaping is not a phase and not harmless. It’s a chemical addiction with physical and psychological consequences. Parents need to ask questions, watch for signs, and understand that “not my child” is no longer a safe assumption.

 

In addition, young boys need to be educated about the truth behind vapes. Let them see real lung X-rays. Let them hear from those suffering. Education is key. Parents need to talk to mechanchim and rabbanim about how to broach the topic with children who have addictions.

 

From a legal perspective, local authorities need to crack down on stores selling vapes to minors. Sting operations, fines, and public accountability are necessary.

 

And for those already addicted, there must be support. Nicotine patches, therapy, and cessation programs should be available in our community clinics. Resources must be advertised and accessible.

 

This isn’t just about clouds of peach-flavored vapor. It’s about a generation of children being hooked on a toxic habit before their lungs are even fully developed. The choice is ours: ignore it and inhale the consequences or face it head-on and breathe easier knowing we stood up when it mattered most.

 

 

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