As though West Virginia’s young people don’t have enough challenges to overcome, an American Lung Association representative suggests we’re failing them on another front: vaping.

Though it has been evident for many years that vaping is not even remotely a safe alternative to smoking, tobacco companies have continued their marketing onslaught — and access is easy.

“We are talking about one of the most deadly products currently on the market … and hooking and addicting our kids,” Jennifer Folkenroth with the ALA told WCHS. “There is no safe alternative. The only true way is to breathe clean air.”

The vast majority of Mountain State residents know that, and yet, according to the ALA, we have the highest teen vaping rates in the country — a horrifying 28%. Vape shops are everywhere, and shelves are full of products meant to entice young people. Couple that with potential peer pressure and kids need all the help they can get to resist.

Are they getting that help? No, according to Folkenroth.

“I would say one huge reason is that unfortunately the state is failing when it comes to funding adequate evidence-based proven effective tobacco prevention and cessation programs for their future generations,” she told WCHS.

Lawmakers have proved before they have a difficult time strengthening laws or tax structures when the tobacco companies don’t want it. It took them until a little over a year ago to make it illegal to smoke a LIT tobacco product in a car with a child under age 16, and the penalties attached to that offense are laughable.

So we are left with the hope that cycles will be broken by families and vaping will lose its appeal on its own, in West Virginia, unless the folks in Charleston who spend so much time telling us protecting children is their highest priority wake up and do something meaningful to help.