ATLANTA — Georgia education leaders say vaping remains a problem in the state’s schools, with nearly 18,000 students caught vaping last year.
Georgia Department of Education Deputy Superintendent Justin Hill says the actual number of students who vape could be even higher.
“Around 17,000, just under 18,000 kids are getting caught vaping. 25,000 kids are admitting to vaping, so what’s the real number? At least 25,000, but I would say it’s probably 30,000,” Hill said.
High school students accounted for 65% of the state’s reported vaping cases last year, while 29% involved middle school students.
Students caught vaping are often suspended. Hill says there were more than 20,000 total vaping incidents, with 50% resulting in an out-of-school suspension and 34% resulting in an in-school suspension.
Education officials are also seeing changes in the vaping products reaching students.
“Now we’re seeing things like protein is being added to vapes or these things that look like 80’s gang boys, or pager vapes; remember the old beeper/pagers that we all used to carry before we had cellphones,” Georgia Department of Education School Health Program Manager Kim Conley said.
Some Georgia school districts are spending thousands of dollars on vape detection technology as part of their efforts to address vaping in schools.
The Georgia Department of Education is also expanding its prevention efforts. The agency awarded $150,000 in grants this year to support local school vaping prevention programs alongside the Georgia Department of Public Health.
“It’s just important that we stay ahead of these things as our students are being exposed to it,” Conley said.
WSB Radio’s Ashley Simmons & Jonathan O’Brien contributed to this story.
