Schools and HC DrugFree work to stamp out teenage vaping
alcohol at 15 [years old] you are more likely to become [addicted] than at the age of 35.”
Scornaienchi had heard from teenagers through the HC DrugFree Teen Advisory Council that while they don’t smoke cigarettes, they don’t realize they are still inhaling nicotine by vaping.
The teens also said they see advertisements saying vaping and juuling are ways to quit smoking, she added.
“To me the question we want to keep answering [for teens] is we do not believe that juuling and vaping is better than smoking cigarettes … that’s like saying it’s better to drive 100 mph than 110 mph,”
Scornaienchi said.
Smoking of any kind is prohibited on all school grounds within the school system.
The Howard County Council banned vaping in public places in August 2015.
The school system is looking to not only consider substance abuse a discipline issue among students, but also address the health concern with substance use support and counseling, said Kerrie Wagaman, coordinator of health services for Howard schools.
A PowerPoint presentation was sent to school administrators to be shown to all staff members to help them recognize the usage.
“It’s probably happening in your [referring to teachers] class and you don’t necessarily know it,” Wagaman said.
On the youth education side, students in second, third and fifth through ninth grades are taught a substance abuse prevention unit, according to Tempe Beall, an instructional facilitator in the school system’s department of curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The tobacco units are primarily in sixth and ninth grade; however, this year, seventh- and eighth-grade classes are also covering tobacco because those students did not learn about electronic smoking devices when they were in sixth grade, Beall said.
The unit covers traditional tobacco and smokeless tobacco as well as electronic smoking, vaping and juuling.
Students learn about the short- and long-term effects of smoking and vaping, factors that can influence decision making, skills on how to remain substance abuse free and more.
With vaping becoming more prevalent among teens, the school system is hoping students understand the dangers, make healthy decisions and know how to get out of pressuring situations, Beall said.
The health department has a tobacco awareness program that is offered to students who are found with a nicotine product on school property.
The three-hour program talks about the health impacts of using tobacco and offers resources for students.
Individual smoking cessation classes are also available for youth and adults at the health department.
The health department’s cancer and tobacco coalition recently met to increase awareness for students, parents, teachers, coaches and the general public about electronic smoking products, Rossman said. jnocera@baltsun.com twitter.com/jessmnocera
Scornaienchi had heard from teenagers through the HC DrugFree Teen Advisory Council that while they don’t smoke cigarettes, they don’t realize they are still inhaling nicotine by vaping.
The teens also said they see advertisements saying vaping and juuling are ways to quit smoking, she added.
“To me the question we want to keep answering [for teens] is we do not believe that juuling and vaping is better than smoking cigarettes … that’s like saying it’s better to drive 100 mph than 110 mph,”
Scornaienchi said.
Smoking of any kind is prohibited on all school grounds within the school system.
The Howard County Council banned vaping in public places in August 2015.
The school system is looking to not only consider substance abuse a discipline issue among students, but also address the health concern with substance use support and counseling, said Kerrie Wagaman, coordinator of health services for Howard schools.
A PowerPoint presentation was sent to school administrators to be shown to all staff members to help them recognize the usage.
“It’s probably happening in your [referring to teachers] class and you don’t necessarily know it,” Wagaman said.
On the youth education side, students in second, third and fifth through ninth grades are taught a substance abuse prevention unit, according to Tempe Beall, an instructional facilitator in the school system’s department of curriculum, instruction and assessment.
The tobacco units are primarily in sixth and ninth grade; however, this year, seventh- and eighth-grade classes are also covering tobacco because those students did not learn about electronic smoking devices when they were in sixth grade, Beall said.
The unit covers traditional tobacco and smokeless tobacco as well as electronic smoking, vaping and juuling.
Students learn about the short- and long-term effects of smoking and vaping, factors that can influence decision making, skills on how to remain substance abuse free and more.
With vaping becoming more prevalent among teens, the school system is hoping students understand the dangers, make healthy decisions and know how to get out of pressuring situations, Beall said.
The health department has a tobacco awareness program that is offered to students who are found with a nicotine product on school property.
The three-hour program talks about the health impacts of using tobacco and offers resources for students.
Individual smoking cessation classes are also available for youth and adults at the health department.
The health department’s cancer and tobacco coalition recently met to increase awareness for students, parents, teachers, coaches and the general public about electronic smoking products, Rossman said. jnocera@baltsun.com twitter.com/jessmnocera
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