We know that many young people will experiment with substances they have been told are harmful. Indeed, many of us experimented with harmful substances in our own youth. Familiar substances include cigarettes, alcohol and marijuana.
Experimentation by students continues in our schools today, but by way of a modern invention – Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). ENDS come in many different shapes and sizes and are referred to by a number of names including vapes, vaporizers, vape pens, hookah pens, e-cigarettes and e-pipes. They can resemble pens, cigarettes and even USB flash drives. Indeed, some of these devices are designed to charge directly from a laptop’s USB port.
These products use an oil-based “e-liquid” that may contain nicotine and varying compositions of flavorings, propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, and other ingredients. The liquid is heated to over 400°F and inhaled as a vapor. Significantly, “other ingredients” may include THC, the psychoactive cannabinoid produced by the marijuana plant.
Suspected health risks associated with vaping include heart disease, a weakened immune system, gum disease, chronic bronchitis (smoker’s cough), and depression. Common sense tells us that inhaling a vapor heated to over 400°F and contains some of the same carcinogens as cigarettes cannot be healthful.
The National Institute on Drug Abuse recently reported that in 2016, 13.3% of 8th graders, 23.9% of 10th graders and 27.8% of 12th graders acknowledged vaping one or more times during the year. The US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) found that e-cigarette use among high-school and middle-school students has increased by more than 10-fold and by nine-fold, respectively, since 2011.
The practice of vaping is growing in popularity and is much harder to detect than traditional cigarettes. The small device size and the invisible vapor make it much easier for vaping to go undetected. It is far too easy for young people to obtain vape devices and paraphernalia. One study showed a successful online buy rate over 90% by 14 to 17-year olds, and nearly all deliveries were simply left at the door.
An article in the February 2016 issue of the journal Pediatrics by Alain Braillon, public-health senior consultant, and whistle-blower, bluntly stated that “ENDS [electronic nicotine delivery systems] have the potential to addict a new generation of youth to nicotine and reverse more than 50 years of progress in tobacco control”.
The legalization of THC-based oils makes vaping even more dangerous for young people. THC oils have the potency of traditional marijuana products and are used with easy to conceal vape pens and similar devices.
It is important for teachers, administrators and other school personnel to be aware of the growing use and inherent dangers of vaping by students. It is also important that school staff are vigilant and report suspicious behavior. Students who vape TCH oils will exhibit mood changes within minutes of their vaping episode. Teachers are in the best position to observe unusual behavior and should not hesitate to call for assistance if a student is behaving in an odd and unusual way. Behavior can range from lethargy to hyperactivity, depending on the student.
It is important to discourage vaping of any substance in the school and on campus. The industry is not well regulated and the number of different chemicals, including nicotine, will vary widely from one brand to another. While it is not reasonable to expect schools to eliminate vaping on campus, there is much that can be done to reduce its occurrence.
Teachers should enforce stricter rules on how many students are allowed to leave the classroom and for how long. Teachers are inviting trouble when they allow two or more students to leave at the same time. Students should be required to sign out before leaving a classroom. They should leave their cell phones and book bags in the classroom and carry a hall pass. We want to deter students from using their cell phones to coordinate rendezvous with other students. Students who are out of the classroom for more than ten minutes should be reported to the administration office for further action.
Teachers should familiarize themselves with vaping paraphernalia so that they can identify it if students show it openly to classmates. Teachers who suspect illegal possession or use of vape devices should report their suspicions to the appropriate office administrators.
School administration should educate and communicate the dangers of vaping to the student body. Subject matter experts may be invited on campus to speak with the students. These speakers may include former students who developed a nicotine (or other) addiction after vaping on a regular and frequent basis.
Signage that discourages vaping and shows the risks of vaping can be posted around campus. Students taking biology, health, anatomy and chemistry classes could be engaged to investigate the harms of vaping and to communicate their findings to the student body through online discussion boards, presentations and campus messaging campaigns.
Athletic team coaches and PE teachers should be encouraged to speak to their students about the harms and risks of vaping. And we must not leave out the parents. The parents play an important role in educating and discouraging their children from practicing this addictive habit. School administrators should communicate to the parents the ongoing efforts by the school to educate, raise awareness and reduce the occurrence of vaping on campus. This communication is the opportunity to reach out to the parent community to actively engage the parents in this effort. This will help ensure that the messaging and education are consistent on campus and off campus. School administration should share information about the harms and risks so that the parents have the information they need to help their children make healthier choices.
There is no simple solution to reducing and discouraging vaping by middle school and high school age students. The effort begins with clear communication by parents, teachers, administrators and health professionals about the risks and harms associated with vaping. The entire school community needs to be informed and engaged in helping students make the right choices. We want to do all we can so that our children have a healthful, caring and supportive environment in which to learn. The actions described above will contribute to this important goal.