Students Caught Vaping At Elementary School In Stratford

STRATFORD, CT — Some students were recently found “vaping” during recess at Second Hill Lane Elementary School in Stratford, according to a notice sent to families. In the letter, Assistant Principal Amy Pinto wrote that they were “saddened to report that students were vaping in our upper grades during recess.”

“Several students were interviewed and families of students directly involved were contacted,” Pinto wrote in the letter. “Your child may have witnessed this or heard about it from students talking. We hope this notice will serve as a way of starting a conversation about vaping.

“As you may already know, vaping devices can come in many forms that are easily concealable, they can resemble pens or USB flash drives. The visible ‘smoke’ does not linger or leave a strong scent.”

Pinto said that staff members have been alerted and officials are “adding some education about the dangers of vaping to grade five.” Sixth-grade students already receive this information through health class. To sign up for Stratford breaking news alerts and more, click here.

E-cigarettes are battery operated devices designed to deliver nicotine with flavorings and other chemicals to users in vapor instead of smoke. Connecticut state law makes it illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to buy or possess in public and e-cigarette or vapor product and for anyone to sell, give, or deliver them to a minor. Violators are subjected to some of the same penalties the law imposes on those who commit similar violations involving tobacco cigarettes.

According to the FDA, more than two million middle and high school students in the U.S. were current users of e-cigarettes in 2017. E-cigarette use rose from 1.5 percent to 11.7 percent among high school students and from 0.6 percent to 3.3 percent among middle school students from 2011 to 2017, according to the FDA.

According to a 2013-2014 survey, 81 percent of current youth e-cigarette users cited the availability of appealing flavors as the primary reason for use.

Read more about e-cigarettes and vaping at the FDA website here.

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