Putting a Spotlight on Vaping & Our Student Population
CATCH is a youth program that focuses on the dangers of electronic cigarettes. The program was developed by the Michael & Susan Dell Center for Healthy Living at the UTHealth School of Public Health to show kids critical information and to help them make healthier choices.
The program includes four 35-minute classroom sessions, suitable for grades 7-12. CATCH.org is an online platform where teachers and parents can find supporting materials. In addition to online material, the program provides posters that will be displayed around schools.
Meadow Bridge High School is trying to solve the problem with the electronic cigarettes- in other words, JUULing and other vapes. Meadow Bridge High School is having too many discipline issues with the kids vaping inside of the school.
Principal Stacy White said, “I had so many students last year that were caught vaping. The students that had the Juuls or Pods told me that it was widespread throughout the school. That if we checked lockers, we would find a lot of people doing it. I knew it was a huge problem. I understand the dangers of it. I decided instead of telling students it’s a bad thing to do, the program can teach them why it’s bad and why it’s not healthy.”
Senior student council Betty Watson said, “This program could really influence them to stop vaping because of the horrendous consequences. Students must first choose to listen. If I was vaping, I would let this program open my eyes and consider that I’m ruining my health. I would then reconsider getting help to stop.”
The teachers at Meadow Bridge High School do believe this program could help the students and point them in the right direction. Although some have not seen any students are vaping. They just hear and know of a few students that are doing it.
Teacher Elizabeth Hamlin said, “I believe the Catch My Breath program should help most students because it will give them scientific facts about vaping and how to make better decisions.”
Student opinions on the program are mixed. Some students think it is pointless and a waste of time. Others think it could really help their friends and other students at Meadow Bridge High School.
Eighth grader Mikea Neal said, “Most kids are going to blow it off and just be like whatever, I’m still going to do what I want, and I’ll be fine.”
And Senior Abigail Simms said, “I don’t believe it will help. I know the kids are too arrogant to even listen to anything about it. I think that if someone is serious about it then, yes, but I know more than half of the kids don’t care.”
But others are more optimistic.
Seventh grader Brooklyn Boggs said, “It will help students. It’ll show them what will happen to us if we don’t think about it before we do it.”
Junior Jenna Gladwell said, “I believe it will reduce vaping in our school because the program goes in depth about the effects about vaping has on your health.”
No matter the opinion on the effectiveness. To sit back and do nothing isn’t an option for the school and the community.
At the very least, this program will raise awareness. Most of the teachers hope this program can help the kids they love teaching every week. As for the students, they should open their eyes and ears and take the program seriously. They have the most to gain and to lose.