Clear Creek ISD administrators, parents and law-enforcement officials discussed implementing multifaceted approaches to combat student use of vaping devices at the Feb. 4 Bay Area Vaping Task Force meeting.
The task force is a subsection of the Bay Area Alliance for Youth & Families, a coalition that works to foster conversation around public health issues. CCISD is well on its way to an increase in the number of reported students possessing tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes, vapes and Juuls, school liaison officers said based on data presented by the coalition. During the 2018-19 school year, 152 students were charged with possession of tobacco products, and 99 students were charged from August to December 2019 alone, per the data.
Chris McCarvell, one of CCISD’s school liaison officers, said that disposable vape pens or “smoke sticks” have increased in popularity among students within the last month. The district’s Crime Stoppers tip line is being utilized, but it is difficult for law enforcement to act under probable cause based on these tips, he said.
“The big trend right now is ... everything is being pushed to oils and waxes,” McCarvell added. “Even the green, leafy marijuana, it’s all going into these vapes.”
None of the data at the meeting indicated CCISD students’ usage rates of devices with THC—the cannabinoid responsible for most of cannabis’s psychological effects—because pens are not tested for THC content, McCarvell said. Marijuana test kits are almost $2 each, which he said is part of the reason pens are not tested, and he added that Harris County is reluctant to prosecute when it comes to marijuana cases.
Punishment for students found with these devices can vary and is executed at the discretion of school officials, CCISD administrators said at the meeting. In-school suspension is common, with the amount of suspension time depending on the student’s record.
Students are consciously making the choice to use these products even though they are not properly educated on their potential health risks, said Marina Keeton, CCISD’s coordinator of health services. She suggested taking the approach of showing students worst-case, extreme scenarios to emphasize the harmful effects of the devices.
“If it’s a slap on the wrist; these kids don’t care,” said Michael Kramm, League City assistant city manager, in agreement. “It’s got to be graphic; it’s got to smack them in the face.”
Parents are part of the problem, too, attendees said. Jennifer Broddle, who serves on the CCISD board of trustees, said parents frequently appeal their children’s vaping-related punishments. Amanda McLauchlin, coalition manager for the Bay Area Alliance, recalled recently watching a mother drop her child off in front of a local smoke shop. About 50% of vaping devices owned by students were provided by parents, McLauchlin said at a February 2019 panel.
The alliance’s efforts focus on environmental education, or changing the environment surrounding children through efforts such as advocating for legislation and doing media campaigns, McLauchlin said. Future meetings will involve the task force dividing into subcommittees to work on targeting young people and parents alike with education efforts, she said just before the meeting adjourned.
Attendees agreed that solutions must be multipronged, substantial and effective at a citywide level.
“At the end of the day, our job is to protect kids,” McLauchlin said. “It [does take] a village. It’s got to be all of us.”
