Educators see growing problem

By Robert Cloud

Instead of being suspended, a Waupaca student caught vaping may attend several sessions of a program developed by the American Lung Association.

John Meyer, the middle school’s associate principal, explained the program during the Jan. 14 Waupaca School Board meeting.

He said the idea for the program came after vaping pens were found on eight middle school students in a single day in December.

Meyer told the board he later participated in a meeting of the district’s administrative team where Waupaca Police Officer Wes Zube and school nurse Jamie Trzebiatowski described the vaping crisis among youth.

The number of teens using vaping products to smoke tobacco rose from 2.1 million in 2017 to 3.6 million in 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

In 2016, a report from the U.S. Surgeon General noted that “Although conventional cigarette smoking has declined markedly over the past several decades among youth and young adults” there has been a dramatic rise in the use of e-cigarettes.

In addition to nicotine, vaping can expose both users to heavy metals, volatile organic compounds and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deeply into the lungs, the report said.

Currently, a student caught using or possessing tobacco products, including vaping devices, faces suspension from school.

The student can also be cited for a municipal ordinance violation and fined.

Meyer said education should be an alternative to suspension.

Under the new plan, a student who is caught vaping will be required to watch a video about its health effects.

The school liaison officer and the student’s parents will be notified.

The student will also receive a citation.

Educational program

However, if the student chooses to participate in the program, the citation will be voided after the program is completed.

Created by the American Lung Association, the program is called InDepth.

It will be led by an adult, involve four 50-minute sessions either as a group or one-on-one.

InDepth teaches students about nicotine dependence, healthy alternatives and how to kick the habit.

Meyer said he worked with students who had been caught with vaping pens at school.

“I want this to be a meaningful impact to these kids,” Meyer said, noting there had not been any further incidents of vaping since December.

In order to successfully prevent vaping, Meyer said education needs to begin in middle school.

“We’re trying to curb it before they get to high school,” Meyer said.

School board member Sandy Robinson said, “It is hard to change habits that people have and information isn’t sufficient.”

She asked Meyer to talk about strategies for stopping bad habits or developing new ones.

Meyer said he would develop different strategies for different students.

He noted parents have an important role in the process.

“It’s not just changing the students, it’s changing the family culture,” Meyer said.

Board member Dale Feldt suggested involving Waupaca High School’s Students Against Destructive Decisions in the program.

SADD sponsored an anti-vaping speaker at the high school on Jan. 13.

Feldt was an adviser to SADD prior to retiring from teaching.

“I know they’ll jump right into this,” Feldt said.