A MAJOR JUMP IN ISSUES WITH STUDENTS VAPING ON CAMPUS THIS PAST SCHOOL YEAR. WESH TWO’S PAMELA COMBS SPOKE WITH A DISTRICT OFFICIAL WHO SHARED SEVERAL NEW PROGRAMS, HOPING TO HELP GET THOSE NUMBERS DOWN. THIS UPCOMING SCHOOL YEAR. VAPING CONTINUES TO BE AN ISSUE IN CENTRAL FLORIDA SCHOOLS, INCLUDING VOLUSIA. THAT’S WHAT GREG TURCHETTA WITH THE DISTRICT TELLS US. ONE OF THE THINGS YOU ALWAYS SEE WITH KIDS IS THEY’RE ALWAYS LOOKING TO DO WHATEVER THE COOL THING IS, RIGHT? AND NO MATTER WHAT, HOW MANY DETERRENTS YOU PUT IN PLACE, THE MORE YOU PUT DETERRENTS IN PLACE. SOMETIMES IT BECOMES MORE ATTRACTIVE AND THEY FIND CREATIVE WAYS TO GET AROUND IT. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS WORKING WITH THE DISTRICT. THEY’VE ADDED VAPE DETECTORS TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS, AND METAL DETECTORS HAVE BEEN MADE AVAILABLE. BUT STUDENTS STILL FIND WAYS AROUND IT. THE FEMALES. IN HIGH SCHOOL HIDE THE VAPE PEN IN THEIR BRA, AND WHEN THE VAPE PEN GOES OFF, THEY’LL SAY THEY HAVE A INTIMATE PIERCING. THEIR SO NOBODY’S GOING TO SEARCH IT. THIS SCHOOL YEAR, BETWEEN JANUARY AND MARCH, VOLUSIA SCHOOLS HANDED OUT 521 REFERRALS FOR VAPE RELATED INCIDENTS. OSCEOLA HAD 322 SEMINOLE, 75 AND LAKE 76. THEY PALE IN COMPARISON TO WHAT’S GOING ON IN VOLUSIA. THESE NUMBERS ARE ALARMING, WHICH IS WHY SHERIFF CHITWOOD SAYS IN AUGUST THEY’RE BRINGING BACK DARE, A SCHOOL BASED DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM. YOU’RE REALLY NOT GOING TO CHANGE TOO MUCH BEHAVIOR IN HIGH SCHOOL. REALLY NOT IN MIDDLE SCHOOL. BUT IF YOU CAN GET THEM EARLY ENOUGH IN ELEMENTARY TO UNDERSTAND THE DANGERS OF VAPING, BECAUSE THESE KIDS DON’T GET IT. THIS WEEK, THE DISTRICT BEGAN MEETING WITH THE STATE ATTORNEY’S OFFICE, HOPING TO START STRATEGIC MARKETING CAMPAIGNS TO GET MESSAGES, EMAILS AND VIDEOS OUT TO STUDENTS ABOUT VAPING. REPORTING IN VOLUSIA COUNTY, PAMELA COMB, WESH TWO NEWS. THE SHERIFF’S OFFICE IS ALSO CONTINUING ITS UNDERCOVER OPERATIONS. LAST WEEK, THEY REVEALED 11 STORES SELLING VAPE AND TOBACCO TO UNDERAGE BUYERS. TH
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Volusia schools, sheriff's office have plans to fight the vaping crisis
The district saw a spike in vape-related incidents this year.
Vaping continues to be an issue in Central Florida schools, including Volusia."One of the things you always see with kids is they're always looking to do whatever the cool thing is, right," said Greg Turchetta, Volusia Schools PIO. "And no matter what and how many deterrents you put in place, the more you put deterrents in place, sometimes it becomes more attractive, and they find creative ways to get around it."The sheriff's office is working with the district. They've added vape detectors to the high schools, and metal detectors have been made available, but students still find ways around it."The females in high school hide the vape pen in their bra," said Sheriff Mike Chitwood. "And when the vape pen goes off, they'll say they have an intimate piercing there. So nobody's going to search it."This school year, between January and March, Volusia Schools handed out 521 referrals for vape-related incidents. Osceola had 322, Seminole 75, and Lake, 76."They pale in comparison to what's going on in Volusia," said Chitwood.These numbers are alarming, which is why in August, they're bringing back DARE, a school-based drug prevention program."You're really not going to change too much behavior in high school, really not in middle school," added Chitwood. "But if you can get them early enough in elementary to understand the dangers of vaping because these kids don't get it."This week, the district began meeting with the State Attorney's office, hoping to start strategic marketing campaigns and get messages, emails, and videos out to students about vaping. The sheriff's office is also continuing its undercover operations. Last week, they revealed 11 stores selling vape and tobacco to underage buyers.This is one of a handful of other efforts to help combat the vaping crisis.
VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. —
Vaping continues to be an issue in Central Florida schools, including Volusia.
"One of the things you always see with kids is they're always looking to do whatever the cool thing is, right," said Greg Turchetta, Volusia Schools PIO. "And no matter what and how many deterrents you put in place, the more you put deterrents in place, sometimes it becomes more attractive, and they find creative ways to get around it."
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The sheriff's office is working with the district. They've added vape detectors to the high schools, and metal detectors have been made available, but students still find ways around it.
"The females in high school hide the vape pen in their bra," said Sheriff Mike Chitwood. "And when the vape pen goes off, they'll say they have an intimate piercing there. So nobody's going to search it."
This school year, between January and March, Volusia Schools handed out 521 referrals for vape-related incidents. Osceola had 322, Seminole 75, and Lake, 76.
"They pale in comparison to what's going on in Volusia," said Chitwood.
These numbers are alarming, which is why in August, they're bringing back DARE, a school-based drug prevention program.
"You're really not going to change too much behavior in high school, really not in middle school," added Chitwood. "But if you can get them early enough in elementary to understand the dangers of vaping because these kids don't get it."
This week, the district began meeting with the State Attorney's office, hoping to start strategic marketing campaigns and get messages, emails, and videos out to students about vaping.
The sheriff's office is also continuing its undercover operations. Last week, they revealed 11 stores selling vape and tobacco to underage buyers.
This is one of a handful of other efforts to help combat the vaping crisis.
