We don’t usually talk about vaping in teacher preparation programs. And yet, as we all know, vaping now affects most middle and high school classroom experiences. In 2018, the United States Surgeon General declared e-cigarettes an epidemic among young people.
Teachers across the country are concerned about the use of e-cigarettes by students but are unsure how to solve the problem. We asked Amy Taylor, Head of Community Engagement for True Initiatives, a nonprofit organization committed to ending tobacco use and nicotine addiction, to keep an eye on educators’ most important questions about vaping.
“A lot of my students have told me it’s not as bad as cigarettes, and they don’t want to quit. How can we help these kids understand the real effects of vaping?
Many students do not realize that vapors বিশেষ especially liquids inside e-cigarette cartridges সাধারণত usually contain nicotine. Some have very high levels of nicotine, in fact.
“These products contain more nicotine than combustible cigarettes,” Amy said. According to the Jules website itself, a typical cartridge (or “pod”) contains nicotine, like 20 packs of regular cigarettes.
Many young people start vaping in an effort to reduce their stress, anxiety and depression. “They are leaning towards vapes because they think vaping will help them calm down. This is how vape companies are marketing these products: Do you need a break? Want to calm down? Use it, “says Amy.” But the truth is that vaping can exacerbate feelings of anxiety, stress and depression. And since these products may contain a lot more addictive nicotine, when people try to reduce it, they can put pressure on how they can get their next injury. “
Teachers can use Vaping: Know the truthA free digital youth-vaping-prevention course that helps students discover the effects of vaping, says Amy.
“Young people are more likely to listen to other young people, so teachers can introduce the curriculum and then take a back seat and allow students to interact with the curriculum, which covers the history of tobacco and nicotine and talks about how the e-cigarette industry works. Trying to deceive them, ”he says. “It also talks about what nicotine does to the developing mind and gives students tips on what they can do to reduce anxiety, without resorting to vape.”
“The new vaping pen is so discreet! Our students share vapors in the bathroom soap dispensers and hide them in their bras and underwear. We want to control this behavior but feel stuck if it is so easy to get under the radar. Do you have any suggestions? “
“These products are always flexible and students can easily hide them,” said Amy “They can look like anything from a USB port to a highlighter to a pen.” He recommends that schools provide teachers with professional development related to vaping.
“Teachers need to be educated about what these products look like,” she says Also helpful: a behavioral review that may indicate e-cigarette use. “Some of the symptoms that can cause steam in young men and women are frequent urges to go to the bathroom or putting hoodie strings in their mouths. Some of these products are so low that you can stick them in your hoodie hood, reach for it and take a hit. “
Teachers who see e-cigarette use should intervene. “We have to take these products from the very young,” said Amy E-cigarette confiscation may prevent or limit device sharing, which may contribute to the spread of respiratory infections.
“My school has fought to create a disciplinary policy around vaping. Any suggestions or examples you can share on how other organizations are succeeding in this area?
Some schools have introduced a zero-tolerance policy and suspend all students who are caught vaping. But “we don’t think it’s going to go away,” Amy says. “Instead of punishing these young people, let’s give them information and knowledge so that they understand how to make different choices.”
Remember: Most vapors contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance. Students addicted to nicotine may experience headaches, nausea, restlessness, difficulty concentrating, anger, hunger, and intense cravings when they do not vape. Thus, addicted students can reach for e-cigarettes on school days, regardless of the possible disciplinary measures.
That’s why the American Heart Association’s Tobacco-Free School Toolkit recommends a “properly structured ‘alternative-to-suspension’ program that incorporates closure strategies. [to] Lead students to drop out while they are fully engaged in their education.
School may want to use Vaping: Know the truth Courses with students who are caught vaping. Another helpful resource: This is Quitting, a free and anonymous text-based program designed to help teens and young adults stop vaping. Young people can join for free by texting DITCHVAPE to 88709.
“What’s the best way to communicate with parents about the dangers of steam and help them get to our side?”
Teachers can work with PTAs to include information about steam, including resources Vaping: Know the truth And this is quitting ীতে in content shared with the school family. The PTA may even consider hosting an informational night during which administrators and school nurses may share information about vaping and its impact on children’s health and education.
Amy says that when parents vaporize children, they can text QUIT (202) 899-7750 to receive text messages that are specifically designed for vapor parents. This information can help parents understand what their children are feeling. Parents will also learn how to effectively support young people who are trying to leave.
“We are considering installing vap sensors and detectors in our school restrooms. But it’s a big cost, and we’re concerned that it won’t do much to prevent actual behavior. Is Vap Detector Worth Investing? “
Vapor detectors do not address the root causes of vaping, so their presence is less likely to significantly reduce vapor.
“Providing vapor-resistance courses and vaping-session services is truly a good use of resources,” says Amy. “Underlying all of this is the anxiety and stress that our young people face. We need to provide alternatives so that they do not go to their vap. “
Joined EVERFI to create and distribute a vaping-prevention curriculum at Truth Initiative and Kaiser Permanent (in collaboration with the American Heart Association) Vaping: Know the truth. Click here to learn more.