On Thursday evening, June 13th, 2019, the Skaneateles Central School Districted hosted a Vaping Awareness Night for Parents. Included in the evening was an opportunity for parents to walk through a simulated teen’s bedroom to look for “Hidden Mischief,” a presentation entitled: What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt Your Child: The Facts and Myths of Vaping and Substance Abuse. Finally, a panel of experts answered questions from parents. The panel included administrators from Skaneateles High School, Lee Livermore from Upstate New York Poison Center, JoLynn Mulholland from the Cayuga County Drug Free Community Coalition, Kein Trease from the Onondaga County Prevention Network, and Dr. Mary DiRubbo from Upstate University Hospital.
Some of the information highlighted included:
- 90% of all addictions begin in the teenage years
- Vaping a Juul in 5 minutes can deliver the exact amount of nicotine found in an entire pack of cigarettes
- Chemicals found in e-cigarettes include cancer causing chemicals, formaldehyde, diacetyl, nickel, tin, and lead
- According to the Federal Drug Adminstration, teen e-cigarette use has jumped 78% this last year for high school students, and 48% for middle school students
- The Centers for Disease Control reports that now 1 in 5 students regularly use e-cigarettes
- The Truth Initiative reported in 2018 that 1/5th of middle and high school students have seen e-cigarettes used in school
- Tobacco companies were once banned from selling flavored tobacco products because they directly targeted children. Today, the flavors of juul liquid include Sour Patch Kids, Jolly Rancher, Cotton Candy, and Bubble Gum.
After parents had an opportunity to explore the Hidden Mischief room, Kein Trease explained the 65 hidden items, and also how to speak to children about vaping, especially if parents discover vaping supplies or drug in their children’s room.
A number of parents asked questions of the participants on panel. Skaneateles School District will continue to offer education for parents and students, and is looking at resources to help students who want to quit.
