'Everybody does it': Surrey students talk candidly about teen vaping

They are illegal for teens to purchase, and banned on school property, but vapes also known as e-cigarettes are everywhere at L.A. Matheson Secondary School.

Vapes are small, battery-powereddevices that heat liquid often flavoured and containing nicotine into a vapour for users to inhale.

In British Columbia, you must be 19topurchase a vapour product. Health officials warn vaping can cause lung damage, impact brain development, and lead to nicotine addiction.

But, as CBC reporter Jason D'Souza found out, some teens aren't too worried about the law, or their lungs.

D'Souza spent a month embedded at L.A. Mathesonin Surrey, B.C., to get an inside look at the lives of today's teens.

He spoke with three students about their experiences vaping.CBC News agreed to protect their identities.

The students told D'Souza they all began vaping in Grade 10, mostly because "everybody does it" and they wanted to try it for themselves.

"It seemed cool on Instagram, people doing tricks," said B.T., who now getsvape products from older friends who can purchase them legally, or from the student black market.

'Vape for sale, hit me up'

There are postings selling vapes on Snapchat, said B.T., referring to thesocial media app popular with teens:"Vape for sale, hit me up," she said referencing a typical ad.

L.S., who also vapes regularly, said students "fiend for it"and there is a big demand for black market sales.

"Manipulate and scam" are the words L.S. chose todescribehow the sales work.

L.S. said older teens will sell their vapes to students in grades8 and 9 for way above market price.

"I think about my siblings in those grades," admitted B.T., "but then I think, I want that money!"

L.A. Mathesonprincipal Peter Johnston said teachers confiscate the devices when they catchteens smoking. The school also contacts the student's parents and the student must take drug and alcohol counselling.

'We treat it just like tobacco," said Johnston, who said the vaping trend came on quickly and staff tries their best to educate students about the health risks.

"They just think it tastes good," he said.

The students said they are well aware of the health risks, but what they really fear are their parents finding out.

"Teachers see everyone do it," said P.Y., "but parents take it personally."

'I know it's bad'

P.Y. gets vapeproducts by purchasing them online and having them shipped to the house using another sibling's name.And, like some other teens, P.Y. alsouses a vape for cannabis.

"I keep my illegal substances in a sunglasses case," said P.Y. who thinks the stash spot is safe from parents' prying eyes.

P.Y. said that if you opened most student backpacks at Matheson you are likely to find a vape, weed, cigarettes and lighters.

"I know it's bad, but we have access to coke, molly and Xansand we choose not to," said P.Y., referring to cocaine, MDMA and prescription drugs."We still try and take care of ourselves."

Anyoneinterested in informationabout vaping can visit Health Canada's website to get the facts about health risks.

This story is part of a series called Matheson, examining the lives of students at L.A. Matheson Secondary School in Surrey, B.C. CBC journalist Jason D'Souzawas given unparalleled access as hespent a month embedded at thehigh schoolin order to hear unfilteredstories of students today.