Vaping on the Rise

 

As this picture shows, many people enjoy vaping despite the negative health consequences.            Image by Ethan Parsa from Pixabay.

Cigarette smoking among youth is at an all-time low. However, there is a massive problem with kids using electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes (PBS News Hour, 2020). The government estimates that the number is two million, and because many devices look like flash drives it is hard for teachers to detect them. As a result, many parents and educators are worried about the dangers of these e-cigarettes (PBS News Hour, 2020). The practice of using these devices is called vaping.

One of the problems with e-cigarettes is that a student in a school setting can hide them anywhere (PBS News Hour, 2020). They can be hidden inside a student’s backpack, locker, or jacket, but also inside the student’s socks, shoes, or wallet (PBS News Hour, 2020). This is because the small size of these cigarettes makes it much more difficult for teachers to catch students who are vaping (PBS News Hour, 2020).

One organization that is trying to help is Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). An interesting resource that SAMHSA offers is its National Helpline (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2012). This organization offers a confidential, free, 24-hour-a-day, 365-day-a-year, information service, for individuals and family members facing mental and/or substance use disorders (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2012). The National Helpline assists with various additions including vaping. As a future teacher, this website will be useful if I ever have a student who has a vaping problem (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2012). People should understand that drug problems happen in the best of families. SAMHSA (2012) makes that point in one of its publications, and stresses the importance of intervention if such a situation develops (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 2012). For example, children who are 11 and older can join an Alateen group in their community so that they can interact with others who are experiencing similar problems in their families.

It is possible for teachers to fight back (Superville & Prothero, 2019). One school in Hartland, Wisconsin installed devices in the bathrooms that detect vaping and send an email to the principal. Additionally, the school has experts come to educate students in the hopes of preventing vaping before it happens. These steps can go a long way toward fighting the vaping problem and other drug problems (Education Week, 2019).

There is a serious problem with students using e-cigarettes. This problem is made worse by the fact that these vaping devices are small and hard to detect. Yet, schools can tackle this issue by making use of technology and by doing their best to educate students. With the effort of educators, the numbers of student who are vaping might decline over time just as they did with regular cigarettes.

References

Alcohol and Drug Addiction Happens in the Best of Families. (2012). U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.

 

Superville, R.A. & Prothero, A. (2019, August 27). The student vaping crisis: How schools are fighting back. Education Week.

 

Vaping in Schools: 'Juuling' is Popular Among Teens Despite Health Risks. (2018). PBS News Hour. Retrieved on October 29, 2020.