The Schuylerville Central School District would like to share some preventative information about vaping. The district continues to see incidents involving vaping in its schools and is concerned about the potential impact on its students’ health.
Vaping involves inhaling a vapor produced by an electronic vaporizer or e-cigarette, which heats a liquid to generate an aerosol. The vapor can contain nicotine, marijuana oil or other substances. Vaporizers, e-cigarettes or JUULs come in many shapes and sizes. Most have a battery, a heating element and a place to hold a liquid. Some look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens and other everyday items. While stores cannot sell vaping items to people under the age of 18, these products are available on the internet and students may ask older siblings or friends to purchase them.
Vaping is often marketed as a safe alternative to cigarettes. However, according to the CDC, nicotine is addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain. The brain keeps developing until about age 25. Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control. Additionally, on Sept. 12, the CDC announced that it is investigating a multistate outbreak of lung disease associated with e-cigarette product use.
The district would like to remind parents and students that vaping and the possession of such items is a violation of the district’s Student Code of Conduct. This applies to all school buildings, school buses, and on school property, whether school is in session or not. This provision is implemented in the interest of students’ health and welfare. By prohibiting all students from carrying and/or distributing these items, the district hopes to discourage use of these products. There will be consequences if a student vapes or is found in possession of any electronic smoking cartridges or paraphernalia on school property.
The district encourages parents and guardians to talk to their children about the dangers of vaping. For more information and tips on how to start the conversation, please review the resources below.