The motion aims to keep more youngsters away from tobacco-related products.
On Thursday, May 12, the Cambria County Commissioners announced a motion to further enhance efforts to reduce vaping in schools and keeping youngsters away from tobacco products.
The commissioners agreed to refund $25,120 between districts to Central and Northern Cambria school districts for installing vaping sensors as part of the agreement with local districts and the Cambria County Drug and Alcohol Program.
Fred Oliveros, the Cambria County Drug and Alcohol Program administrator, stated that the refund could be viewed as extension of policies in the districts to address the vaping challenge.
He further added that they want to change the school environment by helping schools in installing vaping sensors, and contact parents and students to warn them of this unacceptable behavior.
Oliveros further mentioned that these strategies had encouraged districts to alter the language in their policies and prohibit vaping.
Moreover, he said that they are requesting to refer students found with vapes in schools to the student assistance program, so their behavioral health liaison can evaluate them. Students involved in vaping are mostly taking nicotine, but, in some cases, it’s THC. In these particular situations, vaping is acting as a route of administration. He has talked to school districts to enforce policies that students engaged in vaping come to them. They are engaging kids into services earlier and overriding in those circumstances.
The commissioners also declared the celebration of World No Tobacco Day on May 31. The Cambria County Drug Coalition director, Natalie Kauffman, agreed with the declaration and clarified that the day is to persuade a tobacco-free lifestyle. He also announced that the union would appoint full-time employees to concentrate on preventing tobacco and alcohol in adults and students.
