Electronic cigarettes, vapes, were introduced in the US in 2007, advertised as a way to combat the cigarette pandemic. The CDC found that 1.63 million high school and middle students in the US use vapes.
Vapes were invented to try to steer people away from cigarettes.
Later studies found that vaping still had many negative health effects.
Besides nicotine, vapes also can be used for marijana. Carts or pens sales became legal in Connecticut in 2021.
Marijuana pens have a high potency of THC. These high levels of THC can cause things like dizziness, hallucinations, nausea, sweating, anxiety, and potentially panic attacks.
Marijuana use in minors could possibly affect the normal development of the brain, causing memory loss, less coordination, a weakened judgment, slower reaction times, and problems with learning.
Minors can easily buy vapes and pens from gas stations and smoke shops, despite the legal age being 21. They can also obtain them from older friends.
In Connecticut, no one under the age of 21 is legally allowed to use any products containing nicotine or marijuana.
While illegal, schools are seeing an increase in the use of vapes and carts among students.
Vaping can harm teens’ mental health, with vapers being twice as likely to be diagnosed with depression. Nicotine can also worsen symptoms of depression and anxiety.The National Library of Medicine said that smoking marijuana while being an adolescent could delay puberty, and lead to low testosterone levels. It also heightens the chances of being diagnosed of depression and anxiety, leading to thoughts of suicide.
A study by Adam David found that 5.9% of middle and high school students vape on school grounds. Vaping is addictive, and students often get caught. Additionally, 11% of Gen Z vapes, and nearly 25% smoke marijuana.
Assistant Principal Ms. Batty says that the number of times that she catches students varies. She can catch students as often as twice a week, sometimes more, sometimes less.
Ms. Batty used to be addicted to nicotine, however thankfully she ended the addiction. She says, “I understand the addiction. It was hard to quit”
A junior at Waterford High School says she started vaping in 2023, due to her “bad boyfriend” and exposure to vapes due to her friends. She started smoking marijuana in 2024, halfway through her sophomore year, saying she started because “I don’t know, I like to dabble.”
Here at Waterford High School, these issues have increased in the last couple years. Generally around the time Covid hit.
The same student said that they don’t bring their pen to school because she doesn’t want to get caught and deal with the consequences.
If a student is caught with a nicotine vape at WHS, the first offense results in two office detentions. A second offense leads to a 2-hour Friday detention, where students complete schoolwork. A third offense results in In-School Suspension (ISS), with further violations potentially leading to Out-of-School Suspension (OSS).
Punishment for possession of a THC pen is more serious, since THC is an actual drug.
If you’re in possession of a THC vape, or a weed pen, your first offense is automatically three days of ISS. Your second offense is five days of ISS. Your third offense would be five days of OSS. Lastly, your 4th offense would be a referral.
Ms. Batty agrees with these rules.
Ms. Batty says, “I’m sad that we have students who do not get through a school day without using a substance.” She asks, “What are we doing that causes this need to escape or alter one’s mind?”, and “What’s going on in their life?”
“I feel we have a small population of students who are addicted to this and struggle to get through a school day without using the substance. This is super concerning, and the staff and I at WHS are really working to figure out different strategies to intervene and support students, while maintaining a healthy and safe environment for everyone.” Assistant Principal Ms. Moore explains.
“We have suspected students many times but it is very difficult to catch students as the vape devices are small, and students are entitled to privacy in the bathroom.” She states.
Vapes and pen batteries are easily hidden, and the privacy of bathrooms allows students to discreetly use them. However, some students still use vapes in class.
A junior said, “I never hit my vape in class, my mom doesn’t know I vape and she can never find out so I can’t get caught.”
To lower the chances of that happening however, Moore states “We have tried to implement other measures to limit that, things like the Securly passes and the cell phone policy have helped minimize this during class time.”
Ms. Moore has not vaped herself, so she can’t really put herself in the shoes of a student who is trying to quit, she explained.
Another administration at Waterford High School that frequently catches students is the school resource officer, Melbourne Norm. He says, “On average, like 3 times a month I catch students with vapes and weed pens.”
As a Waterford Police Officer and School Resource Officer, Officer Norm explains that if a student is caught with THC on school grounds, they will receive an automatic juvenile summons. “It is a juvenile summons, but a lot of the time it can be knocked down to a warning if it is your first offense, or be submitted to the Juvenile Review Board, JRB.”
Norm said, “I tend to be disappointed in students who I catch vaping or smoking because most of the time I tend to give them a break and then they lie to me. I mean, I get it. If you’re going to do it, do it at home. Don’t bring it to school. We wanna focus on the other things in school rather than running around and catching kids with vapes.”
Norm recently took part in a “Sting Operation” to investigate Sam’s gas station for selling vapes to underage teens. An undercover minor bought vapes without being carded, leading to the station receiving a ticket for its first offense.
This investigation has prevented kids from going to this gas station to buy these vapes, which hopefully, can reduce the amount of students accessing these vapes and weed pens.
Kids often lack support when trying to quit vaping, especially with friends still using. Platforms like www.thetruth.com offer text support, health risks, and 24/7 help for a vape-free future.
