In Lake Charles, Louisiana, a notable shift in handling vaping among youth is underway. The Calcasieu Parish Office of Juvenile Justice has observed a rising trend of young people, some as young as second-graders, using vapes in schools. Responding to this, local efforts are now focused on decriminalizing vaping to provide support rather than punishment.
A Supportive Approach to Vaping Issues
Heather Hardin, manager of the Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC), emphasized the importance of a compassionate approach. “We don’t feel like kids should always be charged for something that they did. Everybody makes mistakes, especially kids, we’ve all been kids. Being able to do this it’s a big deal,” Hardin said. Over the past 12 years, MARC has supported students with behavioral and mental health needs and, more recently, introduced a program to help decriminalize vaping in schools.
This initiative, in collaboration with the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office, is an early intervention program aimed at providing help with substance abuse issues before young individuals become deeply involved in the justice system. Joshua Campbell, Assistant Director of the Office of Juvenile Justice, explained, “The idea was that we could intervene early with youth before they became involved with the justice system, or at that point of contact to keep them from going deeper into the system and putting them at risk for going through the court system and potentially out of home placement.”
Educational Insights and Long-term Goals
By the end of the program, participants are encouraged to reflect on their experiences and the dangers of vaping. “First and foremost, the long-term health effects of vaping are largely unknown… Using nicotine vapes makes you more likely to use other tobacco products such as cigarettes. It can also increase the risk for future drug addiction of other types,” shared students who completed the program.
With over 1,000 youths helped and only a fraction becoming second offenders, the program aims to continue reducing drug use in schools and provide a safer, more supportive environment for students to learn and grow.
Final Thoughts: A Breath of Fresh Air
It seems Calcasieu Parish is on a mission to clear the air in schools—quite literally! Instead of expulsion papers, they’re handing out help and hope. What are your thoughts on this puff-progressive policy? Drop a comment below and don’t forget to keep following us on vapeast.com for more updates on the vaping world.
