Teen vaping is up nearly 900%. Health leaders want to bring that number down.

The number of young people using e-cigarettes in North Carolina has surged to alarming rates.

In interviewing 3,000 high schoolers and 3,000 middle schoolers across the state, researchers at the University of North Carolina found that vaping is up 894 percent among teens.

Many people have probably been around a teen who is vaping without even realizing. A lot of vaping products are designed to look like school supplies, like a flash drive or pen.

Studies have shown vaping often leads to traditional cigarette use.

Donya Sider, a student in Wake County Public Schools, said vaping is a problem at her high school.

“I think they need to stop because the fire drills go on and off and on and off just because of vaping, and it’s not necessary to do that, you know?” Sider said.

State looks to prevent tobacco use in younger students

Both parents and teens will be part of the forum Friday, which is focused on tobacco prevention.

The forum is hosted by the Poe Center for Health Education.

It’s held in WakeMed’s Andrews Center, on New Bern Avenue, from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m.