'It's poison': North Okanagan school cracks down on vaping

The principal of W.L. SeatonSecondary School in Vernonhas sent outa letter warning parentsabout the increasing numberof students vaping at school in the bathrooms, change rooms and even the hallways.

The letter was sent two days afterHealth Canada announced new measures to try and stop the rising amount ofvapingamongyouth.

"Vaping has become an epidemic in North America," said Doug Rogers, substanceabuse prevention counsellor for School District 22 in Vernon.

"Our job as educators is to protect the health of our kids. So, with that in mind, we have rules in place, because we can't have these things atschool."

Shift in thinking

"There's a paradigm shift that's happened here, where some parents have, in fact, bought vapes for their kids and the juice for the kids," Rogers toldDaybreak Southhost Chris Walker.

Rogers said there is a misconceptionthat vapingis safe because "it's a vapour, it's no big deal."

"It dissipates quickly. I've seen kids blow it into their shirt," said Rogers."So, there is just a vapour in the air. There's not that strong smell that you get with a regular tobacco cigarette."

Health Canada says some of the dangers of vaping includeincreased exposure to chemicals that can harm your lungs and possible nicotine addiction or poisoning, if it's a nicotine vape.

"Really, it's poison and that's what they're bringing into their body," said Rogers.

Consequences

Students caught vaping at W.L. Seaton Secondary School will now face consequences.

"When kids don't follow the rules, we have to have some consequences in place that help them to make better choices," said Rogers.

The first time students are caught vaping, the vape will be confiscated and returned to the parent.The second time, the student will be suspended and the school will give the vape to the RCMP. And if there is a third offence, the student may be sent to the school board office where itwill decide on what will happen next, he said.

"All kids are entitled to clean air and that's inside the school, the bathrooms, the hallways and so on."

Preventative measures

The school is hosting an information session about vaping for students and parents in March, said principal Schmidt in her letter.

She also sent home an educational document about vaping.

"What we're really concentrating on is the education," said Rogers. "We're hoping parents will talk to other parents and demand clean air for their kids and healthier choices."