Across the nation, and in the Keystone Oaks School District, the use of electronic cigarettes and other vaping products have increased considerably among youth and young adults in recent years. Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that often contain nicotine. They look similar to a USB device that your child may use for school work and they are typically odorless, making them difficult to detect. The act of using an electronic cigarette is called “vaping” and JUULs are currently the most popular brand of e-cigarettes. 

 

Keystone Oaks' School Police Officer works closely with administrators and staff members to educate students, beginning in fifth grade, about the dangers of e-cigarettes and the consequences that students can face for violating district policies and state laws. 

 

It is also important for parents and guardians to be aware of these new products and to talk to children about making healthy choices. Following are several resources that can help parents engage their child in this coversation:  

• Know the Risks: E-cigarettes & Young People, U.S. Surgeon General's Report 

• What You Need to Know and How to Talk with Your Kids About Vaping, Partnership for Drug Free Kids

• JUULing: What Pediatricians & Families Need to Know, American Academy of Pediatrics

• E-Cigarettes & Youth Fact Sheet, Allegheny County Department of Health

• Electronic Cigarettes, National Institute on Drug Abuse

• Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids

• Smoke Free Teen