COLORADO, USA — Colorado schools and non-profits are using money from a settlement to help combat youth vaping.
Back in 2018, Colorado youth were vaping at twice the national average, according to the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment (CDPHE). Since then, survey data shows improvement in those numbers.
But, schools are saying nicotine in the classroom is still a huge distraction for students.
Out of 600 students surveyed at Mapleton Public Schools, 53% named vaping and smoking as the number one health issue they face at school. They're one of 42 school districts across the state getting funding from the Colorado Attorney General's Office to combat the youth vaping crisis.
"Parents need to know that so many students, middle school, high school students are more isolated, are more disconnected, lonely, than ever," said Phil Weiser, Colorado Attorney General. "When young people are not in a good place, they're more prone to making dangerous choices. Turning to vaping is dangerous."
The Attorney General's Office is distributing $17.4 million to schools, government entities, and non-profits. That money comes from a settlement with Juul Labs, Inc. The AG took them to court for marketing a highly addictive product to children.
"What we hope we can do is build healthier school cultures, where young people know that those in school, those in the community, care about them and that before they make decisions about turning to vaping or other substances, they talk to somebody," said Weiser.
The Mapleton School District will get $36,681 from the settlement. Assistant director of integrated services, student support Rachel Coppinger said they've seen student as young as elementary school age vaping.
"We know that students are vaping. Some of them out of boredom, some of them from mental health, just trying to escape some of the stressors, some of them from peer pressure, but these are all things we can work on and bolster skills for students to avoid vaping," Coppinger said.
Lead district nurse Monica Ycaza said with so many students vaping, it's been like putting out fires across grade levels. She said they are now looking for a less punitive approach and will be able to begin new programs with funding from the AG's Office.
"We want to keep students in classrooms and suspension, all it does it take students out of classrooms and we don't want it to be a punishment because it is an addiction," Ycaza said. "There's always an underlying cause to it."
She said kids are missing class, gathering in bathrooms and vaping. Ycaza said not only are they concerned for their student's academic success, but also their health.
"It’s an oil-based substance that sticks to your lungs that can eventually lead to lung disease, COPD, emphysema, and other issues that we saw or that we’ve seen with long term smokers," Ycaza said.
With this new funding, Ycaza and Coppinger said they plan to create a prevention program, as well as a student and parent/community education program.
"It’s really easy to run into a bathroom, deprive ourselves of all the sensory things going on, all the interactions we have to have that we’re maybe not comfortable with and just take a moment to ourselves and I think in those moments, they're also participating in the vaping that’s going on," said Coppinger. "It’s just interacting in the world, it’s all the pressures of school, and sports and all the things and just maybe not quite having the skills yet to juggle all the balls they have in the air."
Ycaza said the district already has staff members who are experts on substance abuse. They also plan to get them trained specifically on vaping, so they can help counsel students who are already addicted. She said it's about finding the underlying cause of the addiction and helping guide kids in the right direction.
The Juul Labs, Inc. settlement was reached in 2023. Colorado received $31.7 million from the nationwide settlement. Weiser has also announced a $20 million initiative to help school-community partnerships, while promoting youth mental health and wellness. Applications for those grants open in the fall.