Administration’s warnings ineffective at deterring vaping

Many of the school’s bathrooms are plastered with the same warnings – they all caution about the dangers of vaping and of similar drug use – but many of these warnings fall flat. The restrooms are still a hotspot for vaping, and the administration’s actions to stop vaping are ineffective. 

One issue lies in the vague warnings of the deterrent posters; they show very little about the more serious dangers of vaping or smoking. Conditions such as lung cancer or heart failure are omitted. Instead, the posters state that vaping is dangerous without providing other reasons to avoid it. A deeper dive into the risks presented by smoking could help dissuade it, reducing the harm smokers pose to themselves and others.

There are very few measures to actually detect vaping, leading to difficulty in catching users. The simplest is detecting the scent left behind, but it does not linger for long. Smoke detectors would be a notable investment, but they would only assist the school if administrators truly aimed to crack down on vaping.

The problem of vaping can be solved through the school itself. Counseling services are already offered to all students, for any reason, and the system could be expanded to help stop vaping by breaking the addictions of students. 

Although vaping might be a campus issue for some time, there are steps that can be taken to reduce it. With time and effort, it can likely be stopped entirely, making the school’s restrooms safer. As a result, long-lasting and dangerous habits can be stopped, and the health of students can be improved.