LAFAYETTE, LA — The Lafayette Parish School System (LPSS) is expanding efforts to curb vaping among students after school leaders reported an uptick in incidents across middle and high school campuses, district officials said this week.
Superintendent Francis Touchet said administrators have taken notice of rising numbers of students found using e-cigarettes on school grounds and are implementing a series of proactive measures designed to deter the behavior and protect student health. “We just want to make sure that no one is doing anything to harm themselves and put themselves in danger,” Touchet said, noting the district’s focus on wellness and safety.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, e-cigarettes remain the most widely used tobacco product among youth, and most contain nicotine, an addictive drug that can interfere with healthy brain development in adolescents.
As part of the district’s expanded strategy, LPSS will conduct eight monthly vape checks at schools. These checks involve lowering sensitivity settings on weapons-detection equipment to find concealed vapes and searching student bags for devices, Touchet explained. Students caught with vaping products will face disciplinary consequences in line with board policy.
School officials said while prevention is a priority, disciplinary measures will still be applied to violations of the student code of conduct. The increased monitoring and checks come amid heightened concern about youth vaping across the country, a trend that has prompted some districts to adopt technologies like sensors and detectors to identify vaping in restrooms and other hidden areas.
