New devices make it easier for students to vape in school
Teenagers use small nicotine vaporizers to get “buzzed” in school. The Juul has been a popular choice among students.
Students who have been going to De Soto High School for a while may have noticed that some of their peers use a device called a Juul. Juuls are small nicotine vaporizers that look similar to flash drives and teenagers all over the country have used them to get away with vaping in school.
Not only is this product illegal for minors to own, but it can also contribute to nicotine addictions in young adults.
“They market those devices [Juuls] to students and it’s pretty easy for students to figure out how to get ahold of them,” DHS Principal Sam Ruff said.
Bringing any tobacco products to school can result in two days of out-of-school suspension. Being caught with any illegal substances such as marijuana, alcohol and prescription medications will result in a more severe punishment.
According to a Kansas City Star article published in September of 2018, around 10 percent of students reported using marijuana in their e-cigarettes out of approximately 12 percent who use them in school.
A DHS student, who wished to remain anonymous, has witnessed students using illegal substances in school and believes the number of students who have done it is higher than what most people believe.
“I’ve seen some people do poorly in school and have to retake classes because they are smoking marijuana,” the student said.
Reporting another student’s illicit activities is important to the safety at DHS. After a student gives a tip of illegal activity to the school’s school resource officer, Jonathan Keys, the report stays anonymous.
The school administration has caught 14 students with Juuls within the two years that Deputy Keys has been working at the high school. Occasionally, police dogs come around the school to detect illegal substances.
Counselors are also provided at DHS for any student to visit if they are struggling with an addiction. For freshmen and even upperclassmen, it is highly advised to avoid nicotine and illegal substances during their high school career. However, there is always help available in Student Services if it becomes a problem.