From Superintendent Marcus Chambers

The U.S. Surgeon General declared youth vaping a national epidemic in 2018. During the 2021-2022 school year, the number of reported vaping incidents in Florida schools nearly doubled from the previous year. In Okaloosa County, where the majority of our students make good choices every day, we are not immune to this crisis, as we have seen a spike in the number of students possessing, distributing and/or using electronic cigarettes on our campuses.

Our students’ health and safety are my No. 1 priority. I appreciate your active involvement not only in your student’s academic success but also in their health. When a student makes the decision to vape at school, both are affected.

My hope is that through the launch of this district anti-vaping campaign, we can all do a better job identifying the signs of vaping among students, know and share information on the negative health effects with our students, and be very clear about the discipline consequences involved with vaping.

I am very grateful if your child has made the decision to not vape, and we will do everything we can to reinforce that wise choice each and every day. For those who are vaping, we will work with parents to provide educational resources and contacts for community agencies that may be able to provide assistance.

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly one out of every 10 middle and high school students uses electronic vaping products. Vaping is the act of inhaling a vapor produced by an electronic vaporizer or electronic cigarette, which heats a liquid to generate an aerosol. The aerosol can contain harmful chemicals and particles that are inhaled deep into the lungs. Common additives used in these devices, depending on brand and type, may include nicotine, caffeine, cannabinoids (such as marijuana) and potentially other illicit drugs. Nicotine is highly addictive and exposure may harm the parts of the adolescent brain that control attention, learning, mood and impulse control. Research has also shown that electronic cigarettes have resulted in a dramatic increase in marijuana use by students in the form of THC oil, which can be vaped.

School administrators often find that parents may not recognize the signs of vaping or the devices themselves. The liquids that are vaporized come in many different flavors and sometimes smell fruity, which may appeal to children. The devices come in different shapes and sizes. Some common styles we see resemble a thick pen, a stylus for an iPad or a USB flash drive. Some devices are disposable, while others require a refill cartridge. Because of their small size, they can easily be hidden on a person or blend in with a normal backpack or pencil case.

The use and possession of all tobacco and/or intoxicating products is illegal for those under 21. Students are not permitted to use, possess, or distribute tobacco products, electronic smoking devices, or their components (including lighters) while on school property. In an effort to deter students from vaping on campus, vape sensors are being installed in school restrooms. If a student is found to be using, possessing or distributing any tobacco or smoking device, the student will be subject to disciplinary action as outlined in School Board Policy, ranging from the Student Training Program (STP) to expulsion, depending on the content of the smoking device. The goal of this campaign is not to be punitive, but to educate our students on the dangers of vaping and encourage them to make choices that have a positive impact on both their health and education.

Note: Superintendent Marcus Chambers kicked off the Okaloosa County School District’s Anti-Vape Campaign alongside Sheriff Aden in a video message on the District’s Social Media accounts and Website in February. In the video, Chambers and Aden express their intent with this campaign is to help students make the right choices and deter them from vaping while educating families about the consequences of vaping on school property as outlined in Okaloosa County School Board Policy. The video can be accessed here: https://youtu.be/R7vKeAjcNIY.

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