YPD, YISD address vapes in schools

HANS LAMMEMAN STAFF WRITER

HANSPLAMM@GMAIL.COM

The Yoakum Police Department and

Yoakum ISD hosted an educational

presentation to spread awareness of

the nicotine and THC oil vapes increasingly

found with students.

Officer Sarah Mendoza led the informational

session at Yoakum High

School (YHS) on April 20, with input

from several YISD staff members and

local Juvenile Probation Officers Terri

Rogers and Sarah Fisher.

“(The issue of students with vape

devices is not) a new thing; it has been

around for a while. We are seeing a little bit of an influx

with the schools,” said Mendoza before the presentation.

“That is our constant struggle every day— I feel like—

(in) junior high (and) high school. It’s starting as early

as sixth grade.”

Mendoza estimated at least 10 students were found

with vape devices at YISD campuses this school year

alone. These devices, she said, are often discrete and

difficult to spot for an untrained eye.

“Marijuana has always been a big thing, especially

for high schoolers,” said Mendoza. “The thing with THC

vapes now is, (you) do not really smell it. If you do smell

it, it smells fruity. They put different kinds of flavoring

in them… It is very convenient, it is easily hidden and

you get higher.”

During Wednesday’s presentation, (YHS) Principal

Chris Wegener said most students at the high school or

junior high school level are likely to have been exposed

to the issue even if they may not personally use the vape

devices. Mendoza encouraged parents to discuss the

topic of nicotine and THC vape pens with their children

so they are aware of the effects and consequences of use

and possession.

“I do not want a kid to be stuck with these felonies

when we were kids once, (we all) make dumb decisions.

I do not want a kid to be stuck with that harsh reality,”

said Mendoza. “I would like to tell people that the oil is

so dangerous because (criminals could put) more than

just the THC in it. They could. They could put different

drugs in it. Fentanyl is on the rise right now in our area;

we are seeing a lot of deaths like that.”

In addition to last week’s presentation to inform

parents about the uptick of vape devices on campuses,

Mendoza said YHS and YJH occasionally utilize drug

dogs to deter students from bringing illegal substances

to school. The subject has also been addressed directly

to students during announcements and classes.

Although the presentation was YPD’s first public

informational session on the recent trend, Mendoza

hopes to include similar information with the welcome

back presentation for students at the beginning of the

next school year.

“I am not trying to scare people. I am just trying to

bring awareness to THC (and) drugs. I want to stress

that,” Mendoza said. “These are things I want to address

so we can help our kids better, so we can better educate

the parents, so they feel more confident in sending their

kids to school.”