1

Vaping: Battling the Epidemic in America’s Middle Schools

Jeremy Combs
Piedmont College
 2

Vaping: Battling the Epidemic in America’s Middle Schools

Vaping has become a rampant issue in schools across the United States.

Everyone from parents and teachers, school administrators and district officials, even

the Federal government has gotten involved in trying to solve the problem. Despite the

widespread research into the health and long-term risks associated with vaping, schools

are struggling to educate students and parents, while also effectively disciplining the

behavior when it occurs at school. With vaping devices and products being marketed

specifically to young teens, this important issue will continue to be a problem that needs

to be addressed by middle schools.

According to Dr. Linda Richter, the Director of Policy Research and Analysis at

the Center on Addiction, “vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often

referred to as vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device” (Richter,

2018). E-cigarettes were widely introduced in the United States in 2007. There are

many other products that can be used for vaping, to include vape pens or advanced

personal vaporizers that can be expensive and customized by the user. Regardless, all

vaping devices have similar characteristics; a mouthpiece, a heating component with a

battery, and a container for holding the liquid that is used to create the aerosol that the

user inhales. The e-liquid used in vaping products typically does not contain tobacco. It

does however contain the addictive chemical nicotine mixed with propylene glycol or a

vegetable-based glycerin. In addition, it can contain a variety of other chemicals,

metals, and flavorings. Some vape products contain THC, which is the chemical found

in marijuana or even synthetic versions of the drug (Richter, 2018).

 3

Juul, which is a brand name for a vaping product, is by far the most popular.

They currently own about 72% of the market share in the United States due to their size

and e-liquid flavors, known as pods. The device itself is no larger than a typical USB

flash drive and can easily be hidden. They produce flavors such as Mango, Cool Mint,

Crème Brulee, and Fruit Medley. An individual Juul pod or flavor cartridge contains

about as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. Due to the size of the device

and the flavors offered, the Juul device has become popular among middle and high

school students (Richter, 2018).

Even though the Tobacco Control Act, which went into effect in August of 2016,

made it illegal to sell e-cigarettes to anyone under the age of 18 (with many states

raising the age to 21), marketing efforts by e-cigarette and vaping companies has been

found to be largely targeted toward teenagers. An article published in 2017, in Tobacco

Regulatory Science stated that all ads featured content such as happiness, success,

sex, and friendship with nearly half of the ads being animated and one third featuring

actors who appeared under the age of 21. The study also reported that if e-cigarette

marketing remained unregulated, they would begin to mirror older tobacco ads that

used celebrities and social status to appeal to youth (Padon, Maloney, & Cappella,

2017). The European Union has already placed restrictions on e-cigarette advertising

and in the United States, individual states are considering complete bans on

advertising.

The Food and Drug Administration is also involved in regulating e-cigarettes.

They enforce the law by conducting checks on retailers of vape products, as well as

manufacturers to make sure they are adhering to federal law. They require
 4

manufacturers to supply ingredient lists and to post warning labels on their products.

They have petitioned online sellers, such as ebay, to remove e-cigarette listings from

their sites and have even sent warning letters to companies that use labels that mimic

popular products among youth, such as cookies or cereals (Sharpless, 2019). Despite

the targeted marketing, growing awareness of vaping products and associated health

risks, and increased regulations, studies show that vaping is on the rise with middle and

high school students.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported in a 2015 report that

roughly 7 out of 30 high school students, and 3 out of 30 middle school students

reported regularly vaping or using other tobacco products (Andrews, 2016). In 2018,

the National Youth Tobacco Survey, a national survey funded by the CDC and the FDA,

reported an increase of 78% in e-cigarette use in high school students, and a 48%

increase in use among middle school students, compared to the previous year.

According to the FDA, the researchers behind the NYTS attribute the rise in the use of

vaping products among teens to the popularity of the Juul brand, and the fact that it is

easy to conceal, and cited the numerous flavors that are offered as being enticing to

adolescents (FDA, 2020).

Tobacco use is the leading cause of death and preventable disease in the United

States. Despite tobacco use being at historic lows among young people, with less than

6% reporting using traditional cigarettes (Ho, 2019), the main concern for the dramatic

increase in vaping products is the nicotine. According to the FDA, nicotine can alter the

brain of a developing adolescent which can lead to a lifelong struggle with addiction,

impulse control, and even various mood disorders (FDA, 2020). Also, some of the
 5

various chemicals used in vaping products are known to be toxic and linked to various

cancers, respiratory and heart problems. Researchers also believe e-cigarettes are a

gateway to other addictions and cause an increased risk in a young person smoking

cigarettes. One research study stated that teenagers who had tried vaping devices

were four times more likely to try regular cigarettes (Johnston 2017). Since the risks to

young people are great, and statistics show that the use of vapes is on the rise, schools

must take multiple approaches to curbing this epidemic.

The first step in combating the vaping epidemic in middle schools is education.

According to Heather Salko, Senior Risk Management Council for EduRisk, teachers

need to be trained “on vaping dangers, how to spot vaping in school (especially in the

classroom), and provide a curriculum for educating students” (Salko, 2020). Due to the

ever-changing technology and the vast number of delivery devices on the market,

teachers and administrators need to stay current on vaping trends. It is critical for

school staff to be able to recognize vaping devices when they see them, as well as the

cartridges used to hold the e-liquid.

There are many different campaigns and curriculums that can be used to

educate teachers, students and parents on the dangers of vaping. The Massachusetts

Department of Public Health has a comprehensive curriculum on their website

(makesmokinghistory.org). They have a toolkit that was updated in February of 2020

that provides resources for the entire community to include targeted resources for

students, teachers, administrators, and parents. The toolkit includes videos, campaign

posters, and even suggestions for lesson ideas that can be used in the classroom with
 6

students. The focus of the curriculum is to bring all stakeholders within a school on the

same page when it comes to e-cigarette use.

Stanford University’s School of Medicine also provides a robust curriculum that

schools can use to educate students. This free resource is a 5-week program that is

complete with PowerPoint presentations, Kahoot quizzes, and activities to engage

students in the learning process. Even though the website’s focus is on tobacco use

prevention, this specific program is targeted toward educating students on much more.

The first two sessions focus specifically on addiction and teaching the physiological

effects on the brain. Session 3 is an overview of tobacco in general and the final two

sessions focus specifically on vaping and e-cigarette use.

Scholastic, a well-known name in education, also provides a myriad of resources

for middle and high school students, as well as home school students about the

dangers of vaping. By partnering with the U.S. Department of Health and Human

Services and the FDA, they provide a curriculum for grades 6-12 titled, “The Real Cost

of Vaping.” The curriculum is designed to be used in any subject area with lessons for

English/Language Arts, Math, Social Studies, Science, and even Technology courses.

There are lessons and activities, videos, posters, infographics, and even take-home

resources for parents. The resources are free and would be easy to use by any school

system. In addition to educating stakeholders, schools must be prepared to handle

actual incidents of vaping when they take place on school grounds.

Schools have a variety of disciplinary methods for dealing with vaping on

campus. The state of Florida passed a law that prohibits minors from using vaping

devices from 6:00am until midnight within 1000 feet of school property. Violators can be
 7

suspended from school or receive a citation with a fine of up to $25 and 50 hours of

community service or may be required to attend an approved anti-vaping class. In

Nebraska, the use of e-cigarettes by minors is a Class V misdemeanor which can result

in a criminal record and a fine. Many states, including Kentucky and Virginia, have

passed laws requiring local school boards to have comprehensive plans to address

vaping use to include specific disciplinary policies. Other states have focused more on

prevention, requiring local systems to have curriculum in place to educate students and

parents (Pechota, 2019). Individual schools have varying discipline policies to include

detention or in-school suspension, out of school suspension, referral to a tribunal or

placement in an alternative school. Most schools have a progressive disciplinary policy

where subsequent offenses of vaping incur more significant consequences. One school

in northern Texas goes as far as requiring students who are caught vaping, even on the

first offense, to attend a mandatory one-month sentence at a special, isolated

alternative school (Borter, 2019).

Schools across the country are cracking down on vaping using a variety of tools.

Vape detectors operate in a very similar fashion to a smoke detector. These devices

are programmed to detect vapors given off by e-cigarette devices and alert a nearby

teacher or administrator via an app or text, so the student can be caught in the act. The

devices are placed in bathrooms and closets where students have been caught in the

past smoking. Some high-tech versions of the sensors are even programmed to detect

shouting which can help to curb bullying which also can occur in these areas

(Asmelash, 2019). Although several school systems in New Jersey and in Washington

reported that the devices were working well and they intended to install more, Hinsdale
 8

Central High School, near Chicago, Illinois told Wired magazine they placed 6 sensors

in their school and “students simply ripped them off the walls” (Harrison, 2019). With

the cost of each device ranging up to $1000 per unit, this can be expensive for schools,

especially if they are vandalized by students. After a student was found unconscious

due to vaping in a bathroom at Wilson High School in Florence, Alabama, the school

took the drastic step of removing the stall doors from all the boy’s bathrooms (Borter,

2019). While some schools are cracking down on vaping and attempting to catch

students in the act of vaping on campus, other schools are focused on the other end of

the problem, supporting students who are already addicted.

In addition to making students and parents aware of the inherent health risks of

nicotine use and having consequences in place for students who use vaping products

on campus, many schools are realizing that students may already be addicted to these

products and need support. Dr. Sarper Taskiran, a child and adolescent psychiatrist at

the Child Mind Institute, recommends “consulting with a clinician who is well-versed in

addiction treatments” (Martinelli, 2020) if a parent suspects their child is addicted to

nicotine from vaping. Many school systems are acting as facilitators in the process and

when students are caught using vaping products on campus, the school can connect

parents to these professionals in the community to get the student the help they may

need.

The city of South Portland, for example, received a $625,000 drug free

community grant from the federal government, and used it to hire personnel at their

local high school to help support students who are addicted to nicotine. They hired a

substance abuse prevention specialist, as well as provided students access to a

 9

substance abuse and mental health counselor four days a week. In addition to ensuring

students have access to professionals such as these for support, the students are

supporting each other by starting a new club called SoPo Unite. With more than 60

student members, the club’s purpose is to spearhead anti-vaping campaigns in the

school and the community. The group does promote the health risks of vaping and the

consequences of addiction, but also focuses on the social aspects of being a teenager,

by promoting other ways for students to socialize, other than using e-cigarettes (Vestal,

2019).

When I began doing research on vaping in middle school, I was aware that my

school had numerous vaping related discipline incidents over the past school year.

However, I was not aware of just how prevalent the problem was nationwide. The

statistics were staggering to me regarding not only how many young people are using

vaping products, but also how rapidly the numbers are increasing. Most of the research

seemed to indicate that schools were caught unaware and have had to be very

reactionary when dealing with the problem. I was also surprised by the sheer number of

resources to address the issue from curriculum targeted at education, to technology

targeted at catching the offenders.

After reviewing the literature, there are many ways that I can respond as a

teacher in my own school. First, since vaping has been an issue at my specific school, I

can work on educating colleagues about the dangers associated with e-cigarette use

and champion educating students and parents with my administration. As grade level

chair, and a member of the school leadership team, I can ensure that fellow teachers

are aware of the seriousness of the issue, able to identify the different devices and the
 10

ways to detect it in the school or classroom. Every quarter, our school has a Parent

Connect Night, where parents can learn about digital citizenship, drugs, or other issues

facing middle school students. I will be proposing to administration to include a

presentation on vaping for parents to learn about the risks and how to access resources

outside of school to assist them. Although this information is located on my school’s

website, due to the amount of content located there, it may be difficult to find or may be

overlooked altogether. This information should be far easier to access.

Secondly, after researching curriculum related to anti-vaping campaigns and

education, I can share this information with administration to help identify a program that

would work best for our school. My school currently has a 26-minute class period each

day called, Pride Time. During this period, teachers do character development lessons

with students, offer help and tutoring sessions, or assist with high school transitions.

This would be a great opportunity to introduce lessons on vaping and to kick off an anti-

vaping campaign within our school. This would also coordinate well with Red Ribbon

Week, which focuses on drug and alcohol abuse. Our school also has a club called

Sources of Strength. The club is made up of student and faculty leaders who spread

positivity through the school by teaching students to focus on their strengths when

dealing with crisis situations. This would also be a great platform to educate and raise

awareness about the vaping epidemic.

Finally, I can work with our school counselors to help locate professionals in the

community that can assist with students that are combatting a nicotine addiction. At the

district level, there are resources available, but they are typically for students who have

already faced a tribunal and been transferred to the alternative school. I would like for
 11

students and parents to be more aware of counseling services within the school and

professional addiction and substance abuse services outside of the school if they are

battling nicotine addiction. The problem with vaping is so widespread, it will take the

entire community to be aware and willing to address it, if we are going to turn the crisis

around.
 12

References

Andrews, T. (2016, April 15). CDC: Roughly tenfold increase in use of e-cigarettes by teens in
just 4 years. The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-
mix/wp/2016/04/15/cdc-report-roughly-tenfold-increase-in-use-of-e-cigarettes-by-high-
school-and-middle-school-students-in-just-4-years/.

Asmelash, L. (2019, September 12). High schools embrace 'vape detectors' in fight against
bathroom vaping. CNN. https://www.cnn.com/2019/09/12/health/vaping-detectors-school-
trnd/index.html.

Borter, G. (2019, September 11). From removing doors to checking sleeves, U.S. schools seek to
snuff out vaping. Reuters. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-vaping/from-
removing-doors-to-checking-sleeves-u-s-schools-seek-to-snuff-out-vaping-
idUSKCN1VW17G.

Harrison, S. (2019). How Wily Teens Outwit Bathroom Vape Detectors. Wired.
https://www.wired.com/story/how-wily-teens-outwit-bathroom-vape-detectors/.

Ho, V. (2019, November 5). More than 4m high schoolers and 1m middle schoolers vape, study
shows. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/nov/05/e-cigarettes-
vaping-teens-children-study.

Johnston, I. (2017, August 17). Teenagers who vape four times more likely to try smoking,
controversial study finds. The Independent.
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/health/teenagers-vaping-smoking-morel-likely-try-
cigarettes-tobacco-nicotine-study-a7898606.html.

Martinelli, K. (2019, October 23). Teen Vaping: What Parents Need to Know. Child Mind
Institute. https://childmind.org/article/teen-vaping-what-you-need-to-know/.

Padon, A. A., Maloney, E. K., & Cappella, J. N. (2017, January). Youth-Targeted E-cigarette
Marketing in the US. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5221880/.

Pechota, D. (2020, June 15). Prevention and Discipline for Student Vaping. Ed Note.
https://ednote.ecs.org/prevention-and-discipline-for-student-vaping/.

Products, C. for T. (2020). 2018 NYTS Data: A Startling Rise in Youth E-cigarette Use. U.S.
Food and Drug Administration. https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-
tobacco/2018-nyts-data-startling-rise-youth-e-cigarette-use.

Richter, L. (2018, October 1). What is Vaping? https://www.centeronaddiction.org/e-

cigarettes/recreational-vaping/what-vaping.
 13

Salko, H. (2020, February 1). Vaping and E-Cigarettes in the Classroom: What Does Your
Policy Say? https://www.edurisksolutions.org/blogs/?Id=3760.

Sharpless, N. (2019). How FDA is Regulating E-Cigarettes. U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
https://www.fda.gov/news-events/fda-voices/how-fda-regulating-e-cigarettes.

The Real Cost of Vaping. Scholastic. (2020).

https://www.scholastic.com/youthvapingrisks/index.html.

Tobacco Prevention Toolkit. (2020). 5 Session Curriculum. Tobacco Prevention Toolkit.

https://med.stanford.edu/tobaccopreventiontoolkit/curriculums/5week.html.

Toolkit for Schools. Make Smoking History. (2020). http://makesmokinghistory.org/dangers-of-

vaping/schools/.

Vestal, C. (2019). How One School Is Tackling the Youth Vaping Epidemic. The Pew Charitable
Trusts. https://www.pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-
analysis/blogs/stateline/2019/09/23/how-one-school-is-tackling-the-youth-vaping-
epidemic.