As a local parent of two teenage daughters and a former San Juan Unified School District citizen advisory member, I believe our greatest responsibility is to create a safe and supportive environment where our students can thrive academically, physically and mentally. However, in recent years, the rise of vaping among high school and middle school students has threatened this very goal.
This is not just a local issue. It’s a national issue that deserves a state and national response.
Opinion
Like many parents, I’ve watched with increasing concern as flavored vaping devices become more prevalent in our schools. The 2023 California Youth Tobacco Survey revealed that more than 20% of California high school students have used tobacco products, with vaping being the most common at 18% (far surpassing cigarette smoking at 5%). Among those who use tobacco, a significant majority opt for flavored products, with 89.1% of vape users choosing flavored varieties.
Even more troubling? High school students report that obtaining vapes is relatively easy: nearly 49.9% purchase them from local stores, and 67.3% access them online…