Concerned parents and educators from 亚洲天堂 Lake schools report that vaping has emerged as a disruptive trend among students, comparable to smoking or drinking. While this issue is a concern across the province, the increasing use of vaping in 亚洲天堂 Lake has led to a reassessment of policies and potential solutions.

Lakes District Secondary School (LDSS) Vice-Principal Steven Little and Parent Advisory Committee chair Pam Higginson took the issue to the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake Council on Sept. 24. 

They spoke about the rising use of vaping among students in 亚洲天堂 Lake Schools and emphasized its impact on student behaviour and education. 

Vaping products are battery-powered devices that heat a liquid solution to produce an aerosol or vapour containing high levels of nicotine, which is addictive and quickly absorbed by the body.

Highlighting the highly addictive effects of nicotine among other health concerns, Higginson and Little presented findings from a region-wide survey on student habits related to cannabis, alcohol, vaping, and smoking. The survey revealed that 37 per cent of local youth had vaped, with the most common starting age being 13. Two-thirds of those who vaped had done so in the past 30 days, and 22 per cent vaped every day. Additionally, 77 per cent vaped within 30 minutes of waking up.

From a local school-wide survey in 亚洲天堂 Lake, they noted that 79 per cent of students believed they could quit vaping at any time. Thirty per cent students indicated vape use but Little expressed concern that actual usage rates may be higher than reported.

The presenters emphasized the invasive nature of the issue and the need for a multi-faceted approach to address it, as parents have voiced their concerns about its impact on families in the community.

While questioning how students are accessing these products, Higginson and Little shared an example of a parent from 亚洲天堂 Lake who discovered over a thousand dollars in charges for vaping products on their child's bank statement within four months. They also discussed two violations resulting in $7,000 fines for local businesses that served underage patrons, highlighting the issue of accessibility for youth in the community.

Mike Skinner, Superintendent of School District 91, stated that vaping has become the new trend replacing their battle with smoking in schools. Skinner noted that teenagers are obtaining vaping products through various means鈥攚hether from stores, online, or through older friends and siblings鈥攚hich poses a concerning challenge. There are limited ways to monitor how they are obtaining these products.

Drawing a parallel to how educational institutions have long struggled to effectively address underage drinking without success, Skinner said, "Teens still find ways to access prohibited substances, including alcohol and cannabis."

He added that this has been an ongoing issue in schools across the province and is a very important topic for the School District.

鈥淪tudent health is very important to us. Our schools are actively educating students about the health effects of vaping,鈥� Skinner said, stressing the need for community involvement to improve outcomes.

Regarding disciplinary actions, Skinner explained that responses vary from school to school. Generally, vaping products may be confiscated, and there have been disciplinary actions in high schools, including parent meetings and suspensions.

However, Skinner emphasized that discipline is not their primary approach; instead, they focus on educating students about the impacts of vaping, believing that education is key to changing behaviour.

In Canada, selling vaping products to anyone under 18 is illegal, with enforcement in British Columbia handled by regional health (Northern Health) authority officers under the Tobacco and Vapour Products Control Act. These officers focus on education and compliance but have the authority to issue tickets for violations or request administrative hearings for more serious offences.

Penalties can include fines up to $5,000 and suspensions of sales authorizations for up to 180 days. The Liquor and Cannabis Regulation Branch also enforces similar regulations for liquor sales, imposing fines of $7,500 to $10,000 for serving minors.

Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake Chief Administrative Officer Sheryl Worthing responded to questions regarding the municipal government's potential actions on vaping and related products. Following the interaction with LDSS representatives, the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake is actively following up on this matter, Worthing said.

Worthing said that the municipality does not issue fines, as this falls under the jurisdiction of the regional health authority, which typically does not inform the municipality of these violations. However the list of violations in the community is publicly available.

Worthing also stated that the council is currently reviewing options available to the municipality to support provincial education and enforcement efforts.

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