Educators’ perspectives on vaping in the classroom: A disruptive, pervasive problem

As students return for a new academic year, educators continue to grapple with nicotine use in schools, reporting that vaping is “a daily issue” that disrupts learning and poses risks to academic performance, according to a new study from Truth Initiative. 

The report, which shares findings from focus groups conducted across public, private, and charter schools of various sizes across the country, illuminates the academic and behavioral consequences of vaping at school and the enforcement challenges that teachers face. Educators report that students begin "dabbling" in vaping as early as 6^th grade with use becoming widespread as students enter high school, possibly as a coping mechanism for anxiety, stress, and depression.

The stories shared by educators also indicate that youth vaping is an issue that extends beyond the classroom – and builds a powerful case for stronger policies that restrict youth access to cheap, flavored, and high-nicotine products.

“Vaping is everywhere in schools now”

Across the board, educators reported that vaping is pervasive in middle and high schools. High school educators frequently called e-cigarette use “pretty widespread,” reporting that “it’s everywhere” and is “a daily issue.”

Students are beginning to vape as early as 6^th grade, with 8^th grade appearing as a “turning point” where students segue into full-blown, pervasive vaping by the 9^th and 10^th grades. Educators report that students are “increasingly brazen” with their vaping behavior, vaping in hallways, around campus, or as they travel to and from school – a possible consequence of the normalization of vaping at home or in the broader community.

Educators suggested a range of reasons why vaping occurs in middle and high school, including peer pressure, self-soothing, and experimentation. Students are commonly turning to vaping as they try to fit in with peers and assert independence from adults. Educators also noted that vaping was common among students struggling with anxiety, stress, and depression.

“These kids are self-medicating. Vaping gives them a dopamine hit, a break from stress, a moment of comfort. It’s everywhere – their parents do it, siblings, friends. But at its core, they’re using it to escape what they’re feeling.” – Middle School Assistant Principal, Ohio

Vaping distracts students from learning, and educators from teaching

Educators’ greatest concern is that vaping impacts student academic performance. Students disrupt the classroom environment by frequently going to the bathroom to vape, which could also negatively impact the students who are not vaping: making them uncomfortable or fearful of shared student spaces. 

“Cigarettes are nonexistent, but kids aren’t getting caught like they used to because there’s no smoke smell. Now, bathrooms just reek of mango, papaya, and piña colada—that’s the only evidence.” – High School Teacher, Pennsylvania

Educators who see evidence of vaping on campus struggle to find time to address the issue, and school-wide policies are often broad and difficult to enforce. Educators report that policies cover tobacco products too broadly, avoiding mention of specific products, and some school policies require educators to obtain proof of possession – a huge obstacle given that students have become experts at hiding products. Finally, educators shared that enforcement of anti-vaping policies sometimes falls to the wayside as other issues like drugs, weapons, fighting, and cell phone use take precedence.

"We’ve given up on bathroom patrols—no teachers monitor them anymore. Our security guards have thrown their hands up, too." – High School Teacher, Pennsylvania

Urgent need for stronger policies and a community-wide shift to prevent the normalization of vaping

While e-cigarette use has proliferated in schools, the problem extends far beyond the classroom. The e-cigarette market is increasingly dominated by disposable products that have gotten bigger and cheaper, delivering more nicotine at price points more accessible to young people. These disposable, high-nicotine, flavored products – most of which are on the market illegally – are sold everywhere from gas stations to grocery and convenience stores, in colorful displays near candy and toys. 

“I live in my [school] district, and we’re overrun with vape shops – within a six-minute walk from my house, I can hit seven of them.” – High School Teacher, Pennsylvania

These products are also easy for young people to purchase through social media or online, with most (76.3%) online vape shops allowing customers to reach the checkout page without proper confirmation that they are above the age of 21. 

To prevent students from using e-cigarettes in schools, the root cause of the problem must be addressed: cheap, flavored, youth-appealing products that are illegally distributed and made easily accessible. Truth Initiative recommends the following actions: 

• Comprehensive flavored e-cigarette sales policies: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) must urgently remove all youth-appealing, flavored tobacco products from the shelves – many of which are on the market illegally. Strong state and local policies are an important step.
• Funding for comprehensive tobacco prevention and control programs in states: The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) should restore funding to CDC’s Office on Smoking and Health, which for 25 years has been the only source of federal funding for state tobacco control programs.
• Enforcement of nicotine product sales restrictions: Policies on the minimum legal sales age for nicotine purchases must be enforced against retailers and manufacturers. Online sales of nicotine products should be restricted. 

Resources are available to help address vaping in schools and provide resources for quitting

For educators interested in providing in-school resources to address youth nicotine addiction, there are a range of options. 

Truth Initiative provides a national youth vaping prevention curriculum called Vaping: Know the truth to educate students about the dangers of e-cigarette use and resources to help them quit. The free program guides students and educators through the harms associated with vaping nicotine with real-world scenarios delivered in a peer-to-peer voice. This self-led, interactive curriculum also offers quitting resources to help young people who are currently vaping through EX Program, a free and confidential digital quitting program. Truth Initiative also provides suggestions for enforcing on-campus policies.

In addition, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) offers science-based and simple messages about vaping for parents and educators. The FDA also provides vaping prevention educational materials for teachers, parents, and students.