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Sanders County Tobacco Prevention Specialist

The need to fit in socially is powerful. The need for teens to erase stress is mighty, too.

To address these things, "straight A" student Luka Kinard started using chew tobacco, then cigars and combustible cigarettes, then progressed to other dangerous substances. Then, thinking he was choosing something healthier, he started "vaping" electronic cigarettes. He entered the world of Juul.

Juul, the e-cigarette company that holds 75% of the market, makes products that come in flavors like mango and cool mint.

Nationwide, the number of youth using the products has skyrocketed to become an epidemic. In Sanders County, 99 percent of high school students participating in the 2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey had used an electronic vapor product at least once, and 18 percent had done so one or more days in the month before the survey was administered.

The medical community has linked smoking as a "gateway" to later use of other more dangerous drugs. The same is true of electronic vaping products. "Juul is the expressway to substance abuse of all kinds," said Kelly Kinard of High Point, North Carolina, Luka's mom.

Luka shared last week to almost 500 Sanders County teens, what could happen if they follow the same path he did.

At his peak of use, the 16-year-old used five "pods" a day, the equivalent of 80 cigarettes' worth of nicotine. The human brain continues to develop until the age of 25, and there is significant medical concern that nicotine interferes with brain development, especially the areas responsible for decision-making and impulse controls. At young ages, there is increased susceptibility to addiction.

So though the teen, then 14, was hooked, all he lived for was another vape. After a prolonged period of use, he suffered a six-minute grand mal seizure and was hospitalized. But he didn't even remotely consider quitting.

To feed his nicotine habit, Luka sold his clothes, his shoes, "anything that had value," he said.

The honor roll student was failing. Luka stopped doing the things he loved. He dropped out of participating in sports, and from Boy Scouting.

During times when Luka couldn't get "vapes," his anger became explosive. He destroyed furniture and household fixtures. He alienated those who love him.

"He was not the same fun-loving kid. He became another person," said Kelly, who said a conversation with him was impossible. Following his seizure, which she directly blames on the nicotine, she sought out and eventually gained admission for him in an inpatient treatment facility.

To get him on the plane, Kelly told him the treatment program in California was only for eight days.

It ended up being 39.

Monitored 24/7, Luka described his days. The withdrawal symptoms were excruciating - headaches, nausea, insomnia. Allowed to be out-of-doors only a few minutes each day, all he could think about was getting out, and getting back to Juul.

Lightening the mood to his audiences, Luka described other challenges of being in the treatment program. Eating spaghetti and steak with only a plastic spoon (for safety) – messy.

Only toward the end of his time there, Luka thought "maybe I need to stop using this stuff."

Once out and back home, he has progressed. He has been sober 11 months.

Luka continues to receive counseling treatment, and attends AA meetings.

Following presentations at Noxon, Thompson Falls and Plains schools, he answered questions from the audiences. Yes, he does still associate with some of those who still use substances, but it has been difficult. Some have rejected him, called him racially-charged names. He has received death threats. Since changing his course, Luka said, "you find out who your (true) friends are."

He has been very involved speaking to groups of students, as well as to anti-tobacco use organizations geared at curbing the youth e-cigarette epidemic. Luka had originally returned to public school, but is now home-schooled, doing an online program.

During the 15 months he used Juul, Luka developed entrepreneurial skills procuring pods for not only himself, but for other teens. This also helped pay for his addiction.

Now thinking ahead, but not worrying about it, he said he'd like to pursue a career in business finance. What Luka will do with a degree in this field remains to be seen. But it won't be a repeat of his past actions, he assures.

His aims, tongue in cheek, are much, much higher.