Vaping among MAS students a ‘crisis’

Sep 13, 2023

By [email protected] | on March 08, 2023

Pictured is one of the vape pens confiscated from a student. Measuring at 4.5 inches, it can provide up to 2,000 puffs and hide in a pocket or purse. Courtesy photo

MANISTIQUE – Over the last couple of years, Manistique Middle and High School Principal John Shiner has been sounding the alarm on the increasing vape usage among MAS students. This week, new measures were taken in an effort to reduce vape usage among the student population.

In a letter sent home to parents and posted to social media, Shiner outlines the next steps being taken to stop vaping at MAS.

Effective immediately, and in conjunction with the Youth Tobacco Act, a student found to be in possession of a vaping device will be reported to the City of Manistique Public Safety. The resulting civil infraction fines will be assessed accordingly:

• First offense: $75 fine and the completion of risk assessment

• Second offense: $125 fine, completion of risk assessment, and 10 hours of community service

• Third offense: $200 fine, completion of risk assessment, and 20 hours of community service

Shiner also recently addressed the Schoolcraft County Board of Commissioners regarding teen vaping and dab pens primarily used to vaporize marijuana oil (THC).

"Five or six years ago we did a vaping awareness campaign. Back then I was hoping that it would be a trend that would go away. This one has not gone away, in fact it has gotten quite a bit worse in the last couple of years," said Shiner.

Shiner presented the board with a bag filled with dozens of vape pens confiscated from students.

"This is 90-days’ worth so far, and this by far exceeds the amount we collected all last year," said Shiner.

"One of the most troubling things is how easy they are to conceal. Students can hide them up their sleeve and use it almost anywhere", said Shiner.

He continued, "It's ironic that it was designed to stop people from smoking, but it's creating a generation of kids that are addicted to nicotine."

Shiner has frequently reiterated that there is no one type of student that is vaping and that this is an issue affecting all students.

"I think as a community, people must have a very long hard look at their children and stop thinking "it's not my kid," said Shiner.

A study conducted by the CDC in 2022 found that 2.55 million U.S. middle and high school students currently use e-cigarettes. About 14 percent of those high school students and 3.3 percent of middle school students reported current e-cigarette use. Daily use was reported among 27.6 percent of current e-cigarette users.

The CDC also found:

• Nicotine can harm the developing adolescent brain. The brain keeps developing until about age 25.

• Using nicotine in adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.

• Each time a new memory is created or a new skill is learned, stronger connections – or synapses – are built between brain cells. Young people's brains build synapses faster than adult brains. Nicotine changes the way these synapses are formed.

• Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.

"We’re not talking about a group of 10 kids, this is a full saturation of a building with over 400 kids," said Manistique Public Safety Director Tim Russell.

He continued, "Students are taking over bathrooms [while vaping], students are sitting in class and two rows over they know someone is vaping. So now it's affecting things."

"It's causing a change in behavior, and not just in the kids that are doing it, it's the kids that don't feel comfortable in class," said Schoolcraft County Sheriff Charlie Willour.

Shiner, Russell, and Willour all expressed the importance of parents talking to their children about vaping.

"It's got to start at home. We are not blaming parents. A lot of parents might not know this is going on, but it's got to start at home for this to be successful"

The Building Trades classes have also built drop-boxes located inside the school where students can turn their vapes in if they accidentally bring a vape to school.

In response to Shiner's presentation at the county board meeting, the Schoolcraft County Board of Commissioners is expecting to receive approximately $51,000 in marijuana-generated tax revenue and another $20,000 from the Michigan opioid settlement and plans on using a portion of these funds to address vaping among preteens and teens.

Chairperson Paul Walker expressed his concerns regarding treatment for addiction and the increase in vaping among students within the community, and shared how the board intends on using the funds.

"The board views this as negative impact money. We believe this money should be used for those suffering from an addiction to opiates, narcotics, and other drug dependencies," said Walker.

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