Deterring teens from vaping is a team effort, and Washoe County schools are working to do their part.
Washoe County leaders met Monday to work towards taking the necessary steps to end vaping and the use of e-cigarettes by students both in and out of schools.
On Monday they invited a prevention specialist to give a presentation on the issue. They say vaping is a huge distraction for students and it normalizes risky behavior.
They also say students don't think vapes are hurting their bodies, but experts say that's not the case.
"The data is showing that there is some effects on the lungs," said Scott Benton, the chair for the Safe and Healthy School commission. "Right now we don't know what are in these vapes and we don't know the particles or if they truly have nicotine in it, and the deception to the children is so contorted they don't know what they're doing. They don't know what it's used for and its purpose."
They talked about how students are concealing vapes in and out of the classrooms. Sometimes in the bathroom they see students vaping, but they've even seen some inside the classrooms using the devices because they're easy to hide.
To fix the issue they want to further educate students with programs and services and interventions.
They also want to continue to bring parents in to learn about resources.
"I think that the big picture is we want families involved so they understand it's not an isolated problem for their child," said Benton. "But How do we get the family to solve the problem with the teachers and the administrators at the schools? it's a community problem not just one person."
They also spoke on vaping sensors in schools which some of the board was split on.
That issue had members struggling to agree on a motion. Ultimately the motion passed to accept the recommendations with only one not in favor due to concerns of the vape sensors.
