New Resource for Montana Schools to Curb Teen Vaping

We all know the awesome classic rock song, 'Smokin' In The Boys Room.' It was originally written and performed by Brownsville Station back in 1973. Maybe you are more familiar with the Motley Crue version that came out in 1985.  Either way, kids and smoking stuff at school is not a new problem.

I asked my freshmen high school kid a couple of weeks ago if his classmates are vaping in the bathrooms at school.  He said, "Oh yeah, all the time." The thing about vapes vs. cigarettes is that it's a lot easier to hide the smell of a vape pen.  Virtually odor-free and much easier to be sneaky about if you are a minor and trying to hide it. Unlike good old cigarettes. You can get a whiff of those delicious cancer sticks a mile away.

Most school policies state that students caught smoking (cigarettes or vape pens) will be suspended. I imagine multiple suspensions could result in the student being expelled. The American Lung Association of Montana has just rolled out a new program called INDEPTH. The acronym stands for Intervention for Nicotine Dependence: Education, Prevention, Tobacco and Health.

The no-cost to schools program offers to support and educate students about the risks of e-cigarette use as an alternative to school suspension. Kind of like taking a mandatory substance abuse class, instead of losing your drivers license. Allison Hickey, national executive vice president of the American Lung Association Western Region says, “The answer to this epidemic is not suspension but education. The INDEPTH program offers in-school education so that students can live tobacco-free lives.”

If you are interested in bringing this program to your kid's school, here is the link for more details.