The number of vaping incidents since the beginning of the school year have increased dramatically at Chattooga High School and Summerville Middle School.
Vaping Incidents since school started:
Chattooga High 43
Leroy Massey 0
Lyerly 2
Menlo 2
Summerville Middle 24
“We did not have a Vaping category in our handbook last year. We only had Alcohol/Drug/Tobacco, Possession or Transfer of Drug Related or Tobacco Related Items, or Tobacco. However, the following numbers are what were noted as vaping incidents from last year,” according to Interim Superintendent Jared Hosmer.
Vaping Incidents for 2018-2019 school year:
Chattooga High 15
Leroy Massey 0
Lyerly 0
Menlo 1
Summerville Middle 3
In the first 15 weeks of school this year vaping incidents have increased by nearly 200% at Chattooga High School and 700% at Summerville Middle School.
Last week there was a vaping incident that created a scary situation at Chattooga High School which resulted in an ambulance being called to the school to administer treatment to a student who had been vaping in the bathroom. Interim Superintendent Jared Hosmer said the vaping incident that occurred last week involved two female students. “Our standard procedure would be that anytime an adult believes a student is in need of outside medical attention the office would be notified and 911 called. 911 was called during this incident last week and an ambulance came to the school to administer treatment. The parent was notified and came to the school while medical personnel were present.”
Chattooga County School Systems Vaping Policy:
ALCOHOL/DRUG/TOBACCO/VAPING TECHNOLOGY and/or ASSOCIATED PARAPHERNALIA
INFRACTIONS
Alcohol 1- Unintentional possession
Alcohol 2- Under influence without possession
Alcohol 3- Sale, purchase, transportation, possession, consumption of alcohol
• Any use of alcohol and illicit drugs is illegal and harmful.
• Medications at school must be handled in compliance with school guidelines. Forms acknowledging possession of asthma inhalers, epi-pens, insulin, etc. are available from your school.
A POSSESSION OR TRANSFER OF DRUG-RELATED OR TOBACCO
Possession of drug or smoking paraphernalia
Consequence:
Punishment will be at the discretion of the principal, depending upon the nature and circumstances of the violation. The principal may recommend suspension of one to nine school days or may recommend long-term assignment to alternative school and/or expulsion.
If the offense occurs on a bus or at a bus stop, in addition to the school disposition, the student may be suspended from bus transportation.
Vaping is the act of inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often referred to as vapor, which is produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. The term is used because e-cigarettes do not produce tobacco smoke, but rather an aerosol, often mistaken for water vapor, that actually consists of fine particles. Many of these particles contain varying amounts of toxic chemicals, which have been linked to cancer, as well as respiratory and heart disease.
Vaping has grown in popularity with the rise of e-cigarettes, which were introduced to the mass market in the U.S. in 2007. Vaping devices include not just e-cigarettes, but also vape pens and advanced personal vaporizers (also known as ‘MODS’).
