MISHICOT, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – As the number of illnesses linked to vaping continues to rise, the Mishicot School District is adding a new Vape-education course for students.
“Every administrator I’ve talked to over the past five years has seen tremendous growth in vaping. Part of the problem is they keep getting smaller and easier to conceal,” said Dr. Paul Orlich the superintendent for the district,
As of September 19th, there have been 48 severe lung disease cases as a result of vaping reported to the state, many of those affected being young adults and adolescence.
“I think a lot of times they’re getting them from older siblings and friends. That’s the scary part, they’re getting something they don’t really know what it is because it smells like bubble gum and fruit loops, but it’s really a danger to their health,” he explained.
To help combat the problem, the Mishicot School District has recently implemented an online vape-education program for their 7th and 9th-grade students.
“So basically it goes over what is vaping, the history of vaping, how it markets to young adults, and the health effects,” said Dr. Orlich.
Since sending out a letter to parents telling them about the new course, the district has been getting a lot of good feedback.
“I caught my oldest with a vape and that was three years ago before we heard about all the new stuff, so it’s good that they are teaching the 7th graders,” said Mandy Kroth.
Dr. Olrich said the plan is to offer it to all their students by the 2020-21 school year.
“If the positive feedback continues to like what we are hearing from other schools nationally, we will add more grade levels until all of our students have taken the course,” he said.
