View from the Principal’s Office

The topic of this View from the Principal’s Office is different than my normal communications. While I typically share some practice occurring at the high school, or highlight something that is going on at our school, I want to take this opportunity to address an issue in our school community. It is with a sense of the partnership inherent in the relationship between our school and community that I write this View…

During the past few months our administrative team has become increasingly aware of the use of vaping products by our students. We have confiscated a number of vaping devices and materials and we want to make you aware of these products, their appearance, to encourage you to investigate the realities of vaping, and to have conversations with your children.

I am enclosing some stock photos of vaping materials; while I am abundantly aware of my lack of knowledge about these products, we want to provide some information about them.

From our observation the devices used to vape come in three elements:

1. A charger - most of which have a USBport and appear to be just another tool of technology

2. The device that facilitates the vaping - in the photos this is the largest element, while the two depicted are both fairly large; we have confiscated devices that are much smaller.

3. The vaping material itself - these are small and have two ends, one has an electronic element, and the other includes the product that is ingested, these products include: Glycerol, Propylene Glycol, Flavor, and Nicotine; and in some cases Benzoic Acid. JUUL packages include the statement: “1 JUUL pod contains – 0.7 ml with 5% nicotine by weight // approximately equivalent to about 1 pack of cigarettes” It appears that all packages include the following California Proposition 65 warning:

This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.

These products are illegal to purchase, possess, or use for minors. While the ones we have confiscated have appeared to be used to ingest nicotine; we are aware that THC can be ingested in this manner as well.I am embedding a recent USA TODAY article that addresses the rise of vaping materials on high school and college campuses.

We wanted to make you aware of these products and, possibly, in some small way, begin your education about their appearance and use. As is often the case, our students are at the mercy of an industry that puts the pursuit of sales above the health of our children. These devices can be purchased online as well as at local businesses. While their sale is limited to adults, we all know that our students can find ways to get products that they want through other means.

As a parent, I am keenly aware that these products could easily have been “hidden in plain sight” in my home. Their appearance, size, and shape, would not necessarily have signaled something that would need my attention. In addition, these devices emit a vapor cloud that dissipates quickly and typically doesn’t leave behind a cigarette’s telltale “cloud of smoke.” Combine this with theirmasking scents – mints, fruits, etc. – and you have a product that, after its use, can easily be explained away as perfume, deodorant, or room freshener.

The dangers of vaping are much the same as cigarette smoking – I encourage you to learn more about this through your own research.

It is my hope that you accept this post in the spirit it was written, we are your child’s educational partners and, in that, are concerned about our students’ well-being. As we have done our work we have questioned our role in educating both our students and our broader community about the practice of vaping. I have decided to include this as a topic in a View..hoping to increase everyone’s understanding of the use of these products and their effects.

Thanks for reading.

Nelson