Vaping in schools requires more support for teens
Teens can buy ordinary items that look like a highlighter, above, or hoodie drawstring but are vaping devices. Credit: Getty Images/Michael M. Santiago
Using nicotine and marijuana is dangerous at any age, especially for teenagers whose brains are still developing. Newsday's story this week about vaping in schools is a reminder that education, health and government officials must work collaboratively to get teens to stop vaping and prevent more from starting in the first place.
Nicotine is highly addictive and can cause lasting damage to a teen's brain, negatively impacting their ability to learn and concentrate. Marijuana can cause similar long-term damage, including the loss of IQ that isn’t regained in adulthood.
The good news is that nicotine use among high school students declined from 12.6% to 10.1% from 2023-24, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, but those numbers are still dangerously high.
The Newsday news division story noted that some Long Island school districts reported more than 50 cases of drug possession in the 2023-24 school year. Nationally, about 6% of high school and middle school students said they used e-cigarettes in 2024, compared with 7.7% saying they did in 2023, according to the National Youth Tobacco Survey. It's valid to believe that vaping nicotine or marijuana in schools is more common than people outside school realize. Schools have an obligation to help curb this epidemic that impacts about 4 million adolescents every year.
Schools across the country are installing monitors that detect vape output and alert officials. That will reduce incidents, but teens are crafty, and it's not difficult for a teen to take a quick hit from a vape while rummaging through a backpack or hiding a vape up the sleeve of a baggy hoodie. They can even buy ordinary items that look like a highlighter or hoodie drawstring but are vaping devices. There will always be ways to skirt enforcement, so empowering teens to make the decision themselves to abstain is crucial.
New York State has done much to curb vaping, first by prohibiting the sale of flavored nicotine vape products and banning tobacco and nicotine vape products in pharmacies. In September, the state launched "Operation Vapers' Dozen," which targeted the illegal sale and shipment of vape products online. The state also has a wealth of resources for schools, health professionals and families, peaking with its "Drop the Vape" campaign, a free text program for teens. Can the state replicate its success with banning cellphones in schools with vapes?
Its vaping efforts have made a positive difference, but more must be done. Schools, with the help of state and local resources, need to expand education and treatment for teens. Suspending a student for vaping doesn't address why a teen vapes in the first place. Students must be taught frequently the dangers of vaping nicotine and marijuana, and more counseling and treatment must be provided.
Most teens who use nicotine want to quit, according to peer-reviewed scientific studies. Will government and school officials provide more help for them?
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