El Paso Schools Attempt To Deal With Rise In THC Vaping

The rise in THC vaping among minors in El Paso has become a significant concern for local schools. Students have been vaping THC, the psychoactive component in marijuana, in bathrooms, hallways, and even in class. Authorities have observed a blatant disregard for the rules regarding vaping among these students. As a result, a growing number of minors, some as young as 10 years old, are facing felony charges for possessing THC concentrates.

To address this issue, school districts in El Paso have implemented various strategies. Many schools have installed special sensors that can detect vaping and alert school staff. Drug-sniffing police dogs have also been used to conduct searches for THC vaping devices. Presentations on the consequences of vaping THC have been given to students, and new measures have been put in place to address these disciplinary cases.

According to the Texas Education Code, any student found possessing, using, or being under the influence of marijuana on school property must be removed from class and placed in a disciplinary alternative education program or juvenile justice alternative education program. This often results in expulsion from their current school. However, administrators must consider certain factors, such as disability and disciplinary history, before sending a student to an alternative school.

In June, Governor Greg Abbott signed House Bill 114, which gives schools more control over which students are sent to alternative schools. This bill will go into effect in September. However, with vague guidance from the state, school policies and disciplinary methods can vary from one school to another within the same district.

Some schools have taken a restorative approach to address the issue of THC vaping. This approach aims to educate students about the dangers of vaping THC while allowing the legal system to administer punishment. Others have chosen a more punitive approach, placing students in alternative schools where they are isolated from their regular classmates and unable to participate in extracurricular activities. Experts argue that punitive measures may do more harm than good in the long run, as they can have a negative impact on a student’s education, graduation prospects, and likelihood of attending college.

Advocacy groups like the American Heart Association are promoting a restorative approach that addresses the underlying issues contributing to students vaping THC. Mental health issues, such as anxiety and depression, are often associated with THC vaping. Treating these underlying issues and providing alternatives to exclusionary discipline may yield better long-term outcomes for students.

Some schools in El Paso, such as Ysleta Independent School District, have implemented programs specifically for first-time offenders caught vaping THC. These programs focus on education about the health risks and consequences of THC use. Students and their parents are required to attend meetings where they receive information about the legal and health consequences of vaping THC. The district has seen a decline in alternative school placements, indicating the potential effectiveness of these restorative approaches.

While the exact number of students caught vaping THC is challenging to determine, disciplinary reports indicate an increase in drug-related violations since the return to in-person schooling. The El Paso Independent School District reported 655 combined drug violations during the 2022-23 school year, while Socorro Independent School District reported 568, and Ysleta Independent School District reported 584. These numbers include all drug-related violations, not just those related to THC.

Law enforcement agencies, both within and outside of schools, have made a significant number of arrests related to THC vaping. School resource officers reportedly made around 880 THC vaping-related arrests between April 2019 and April 2023. Local law enforcement has provided assistance to school districts without their own police force. However, these numbers do not include arrests for students aged 17 or older who were charged as adults.

The Socorro Independent School District has the largest school-based law enforcement agency in El Paso, which may explain the high number of charges from that district. Nevertheless, school districts are striving to address the rise in THC vaping cases through various measures, but the ultimate goal is to educate and prevent students from engaging in this harmful behavior.