Are vapes becoming the new cigarettes? We’ve all seen the stereotypical scene in movies about kids getting caught smoking at school. Now history is repeating themselves, but in a different way. Students are starting to vape at school in places like bathrooms and locker rooms. They’re so addicted to them, they can’t even wait to go home.
Some teachers have caught students who bring them and try to sneakily smoke. Although some teachers may be far off from this new vape generation, they do have a general idea about them. “It’s dangerous. It still contains nicotine and tobacco, like a cigarette,” commented Cathy Overton an English teacher. “Vaping is a bad idea for kids and people all around,” said Overton.
The main ingredient in both vape juice and cigarettes is nicotine. It’s a very addictive substance that could kill a human with a small dose. “The level of nicotine in vaping could be high and bad for kids,” stated French teacher Devin Rottet, “the smoke is just the same as a cigarette’s and doesn’t have a filter.”
Some people think it could be used as an alternative, or just a way to quit smoking cigarettes. Although vapes don’t have a plan like actual ones do, such a nicotine gum, which shows the amount and how long you should use. “People do think it’s healthier, but it’s the same as saying “‘it’s better to get knifed once, than twice'” remarked Rottet.
Assistant Principal, Glenn Buechlein, has dealt with some students who brought them to school and has a bit of a collection from the violated vapes. He’s found out a lot about these smoking devices, and how students are coming up with ways to hid them in school. One in particular is called a Juul. It’s a smaller and lighter version of a vape designed to be inconspicuous. “Juuls are vapes that can look like USBs, and you can plug them in without anyone noticing it’s a vape,” informed Buechlein, “but they don’t make as much smoke as the regular vapes.”
The school’s policy states on page 27 that “in order to protect students who chose to not use tobacco from an environment that might be harmful to them, the School Board prohibits the use and/or possession of tobacco by students in school buildings, on school grounds, on school buses, or while attending any school-related event.” The policy continues with saying “The possession of an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) is prohibited which also includes any item that looks like or is represented to be an electronic cigarette.” The first report gets a student one day suspension and the police will be notified. The second report gets out of school suspension for three days as well as notifying the police. The third report gets out of school suspension for five days and of course, police notified. After all three reports, a student will be expelled. “This school is a tobacco free campus,” Buechlien affirmed, “athletes who get caught lose 30% of a season, so if you have 20 games you lose 6.”
There isn’t enough research to say whether it’s healthier than smoking cigarettes or completely safe at all. So if you do vape, don’t bring it to school. Not only will you get in trouble, but the smoke might harm others. The secondhand smoke could possibly be dangerous to their health, and our school is meant to prevent that.
“Some schools don’t even notice it, but we’re looking for them and aware of vaping.” Buechlien disclosed.
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