E-cigarettes/vaping devices function as a nicotine delivery system. Nicotine is a highly addictive chemical derived from tobacco leaves and other chemicals. Once addicted, physicians are reporting miserable success rates in helping kids to stop, ensuring the manufacturers of these products a lifetime of users. Nicotine harms brain development, which continues until about age 25. Once the nicotine has interfered with the brain development of an adolescent, it becomes very difficult to break the addictive habit of vaping or using nicotine. The concentration of nicotine in the vaping products continues to increase in concentration over time. Some of the most popular vape products contain as much nicotine as 4-6 cartons of cigarettes, which is equivalent to about 900 cigarettes. 

There has been a surge in use of e-cigarette and products that contain nicotine among youth. This includes a vast array of e-cigarette products from a simple flash drive version to a device to resemble a car key or even nicotine pouches that resemble a piece of gum. These products are easy to get, relatively inexpensive, easy to disguise and hide as something else, and able to be used without detection. Many students are perceiving vape products and nicotine pouches as harmless. 

Click on the images below for up to date information on vaping from the CDC. The first presentation is for a student audience and the second is intended for the Guardian/Caregivers/Parents.

Nicotine Resources

913 Vape Free
Resource provided by the Johnson County Health Department that aims to give accurate information and attempt to eliminate or reduce the use of vape products by youth in the 913 area code. 
 

The Shawnee Mission School District Board of Education passed a resolution in support of Tobacco 21 and many cities in our county have supported raising the legal age to buy nicotine products from 18 to 21. Shawnee Mission School District’s Wellness Committee members, consisting of staff and students alike, adopted vaping prevention, education and cessation as a priority. A student wellness specialist was hired in Fall 2024 to develop an alternative to suspension educational option to help students receive education around the harmful effects of nicotine and support to quit. To better support this initiative, the school district is encouraging staff at each secondary school to complete training at The University of Kansas Medical School to become certified Tobacco Treatment Specialists. These staff members are trained to work with students and families struggling with a nicotine addiction. In addition to this initiative, there will be curriculum additions to help with primary prevention of nicotine (and other substance) use as well as the development of anti-vaping student groups. 

If you, your student, a friend, or family member are struggling with a nicotine addiction, please review the following resources. You can also reach out to the student wellness specialist, your school nurse, social worker or an administrator at your school to get more information. 

Resources will continue to be added to this site as they become available.