Vaping among teens has declined slightly in East Texas youth over the last few years, but health and safety concerns are still at the forefront of conversations. (Luca Lorenzelli/TNS Photo)

Tyler-area school districts are enforcing stricter policies and raising awareness, while health professionals highlight the serious risks of the side effects of vaping and the dangers of a trend that affects the community and its youth.

“Vaping is a public health concern, especially among teens,” said Mandy Watson, BSN, RN, Community Health Improvement Manager with DSHS Community Health Region 4/5N. “Electronic cigarettes and vape devices have rapidly become the most common tobacco products and substance delivery devices misused by youth.”

The allure

One major appeal that draws young users to vape is the variety of sweet, fruity flavors combined with sleek and discreet designs. Some designs include favorite cartoon characters, such as Spongebob or a Starbucks travel mug to appeal to kids. These features make vaping both accessible and enticing, creating a dangerous trend among youth.

“They’re able to market vapes and e-cigarettes in places that traditional cigarettes are not allowed to be marketed in as well as social influence,” said Dr. Michelle Beall, UT Tyler College of Pharmacy Director of Outpatient Pharmacy Practice Experiences. “So if family members or peers or friends use it, they’re much more likely to try those products at some point.”

Marketers have begun saying that products are nicotine-free when in reality they are using synthetic nicotine.

“The only difference is that it’s being made in a lab,” said Daira Gauna, Early College High School senior and Say What! Teen Ambassador.

Health risks and misconceptions

Side effects of vaping are similar to those of smoking, but e-cigarettes and vapes could also lead to issues with impulse control and attention span. The risks and health effects are still being studied.

“Just like the e-cigarettes and vapes, they contain nicotine, which being highly addictive can also negatively impact the brain’s development, which doesn’t fully develop till around the age of 25,” Beall said.

There is a widespread belief that vaping and nicotine patches are less harmful than smoking. However, they have the same side effects. “… These products are not benign, they’re not safe,” Beall said. “No level of vaping is safe.”

Vapes carry significant health risks because of the cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals found in the liquids. One serious side risk is developing “popcorn lung,” a rare yet serious lung disease, according to the American Lung Association. Furthermore, teens who vape are more likely to transition to smoking regular cigarettes, which exposes them to tar and other harmful carcinogens.

Through his work at ETCADA (East Texas Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse), tobacco coordinator Anthony Fail has heard of children as young as third graders who have tried vaping.

“A lot of people think we’re looking at high schoolers or maybe even late junior high, but really you’re talking early grade school that you’re already having to deal with it and let them know,” Fail said.

When asked why they use vapes, many young people say it’s to reduce stress. However, vaping does not alleviate stress. Studies show that 90% of youth who don’t vape report feeling less depressed, less anxious, and more happy compared to those who do, according to Heart.org. Additionally, because their brains are still developing, young users may find vaping even more addictive.

“It’s going to change how your brain actually affects things and cause that addiction,” Fail said. “So most of them think that it helps them destress, and actually a lot of times, that’s creating more stress in today’s time.”

An escalating crisis

From 2016 to 2020, Texas experienced a significant rise in vaping among students, particularly in the state’s regions 4 and 5, where the increase reached 54% — well above the state average of 36%. Since 2020, youth vaping trends have shown a decline, although the numbers remain concerning, said Beall.

In 2020, 17.8% of students across all grade levels reported using tobacco in the past month, with 12.7% using electronic vapor products. By 2024, those numbers had dropped to 8.2% for tobacco use and 6.7% for vaping, according to the Texas Schools Survey from the Texas State Health and Human Services Commission.

Despite these decreases, vaping remains a significant issue. According to experts in youth substance prevention, one in 12-13 students report using e-cigarettes or vapes within the past month. Of particular concern in Northeast Texas is the age of first use, with the average being just 13, and some users as young as 10 years old.

While national vaping rates have fallen, over 2 million kids were still using e-cigarettes or vapes in 2023. Another growing concern is the use of nicotine patches, which are highly addictive and can negatively affect brain development in young users.

Awareness efforts

In Northeast Texas, vaping rates among youth have decreased within local school districts and regionally. However, the age of first use starts younger than high school. School districts and people working in nicotine and tobacco prevention hope that with more awareness, stricter policies, and outreach, this can be prevented.

Parents can help by watching retailers and calling the Texas Comptroller if they see violations of state laws. Any retailer selling nicotine, tobacco or hemp cannot be within 1,000 feet of churches and schools, Fail said.

“Anybody that’s advertising within 1,000 feet of a church or school on the outside of their premises, they’re aiming at kids,” Fail said. “So if they’re within 1,000 feet of a church or school, they’re not supposed to be advertising on the outside. They’re actually not in compliance with the laws. That’s a big deal.”

Another way to combat the rates of vaping, is limiting the number of vape shops in the county.

“There’s more and more vape shops being created. And there’s a couple here in town that there’s just like a couple buildings away, like within the same strip, they’re probably like two stores apart from each other,” Gauna said.

Locally, after a December 2023 move by the Tyler City Council, new tobacco, vape, and smoke shops opening in the city must now be located at least 300 feet away from areas such as schools, hospitals, child care centers, city parks and churches. Moreover, such stores must maintain a distance of 1,000 feet from other vape and smoke shops.

School districts crack down

In January 2024, Texas passed strict measures to deter such marketing practices and protect minors. The Protecting Children from Electronic Cigarette Advertising Act (HB 4758), enacted this year, bans marketing practices targeting minors. Violations, such as using cartoon-like characters or mimicking candy and juice products, can lead to Class B misdemeanors, fines, and permit revocations.

“The state has acquired enough evidence to know that vaping is harmful for our students. So harmful that they have instituted this new policy as a means to dissuade any and all vaping by students,” said Arp ISD Superintendent Shannon Arrington. “The message is very clear … don’t vape.”

While the statewide crackdown is significant, local school districts have also made strides in combating the issue, including making sure parents and students are aware of the policies in school handbooks.

“We take vaping very seriously here at Tyler ISD,” said Destry Walsworth, Interim Tyler ISD Chief of Police. “We are working to educate our students and parents about the dangers of vaping, the associated health issues, and the relevant laws.”

According to Tyler ISD, the number of vaping incidents has significantly decreased in recent years. During the 2022-23 school year, there were 116 reported cases, less than 0.006% of the student population. That number dropped to 76 in 2023-24. From the start of school to Oct. 2, the district reported a decline from 38 cases in 2022-23 to 29 cases in 2023-24, and just 16 cases in 2024-25.

“We care deeply about our students and want only the best for them,” Walsworth said. “We’re encouraged to see the decline in vaping over the past three years.”

To combat vaping, Tyler ISD emphasizes awareness through multiple channels. Parents and students are informed of the district’s anti-vaping policies during registration and via its website. Posters, informational videos, and annual communications are also utilized to keep the issue at the forefront.

“We have posters up in schools and a video that has been shared,” the district said. “We also send out information about vaping to parents every year so they can talk with their kids at home about this issue.”

The district has installed vaping detectors on secondary campuses, which have contributed to the reduced number of cases. Students caught vaping face legal consequences, including mandatory attendance at DAEP (Disciplinary Alternative Education Program).

“In our district, we’ve developed programs aimed at reducing the time a student spends at the DAEP if their violation involves an e-cigarette,” Tyler ISD said. “However, if a student’s vape contains THC, they are still required to participate in one of these programs but are not eligible for reduced placement time.”

Students can choose from several intervention programs, including the Cenikor Vaping Awareness program, sessions with licensed counselors, under-21 AA/NA meetings, or completing an online vaping awareness course. They can pick three or four days for a maximum of 15 days off their DAEP placement.

This year, Tyler ISD participated in an online event hosted by the Texas School Safety Center, featuring the Say What! Teen Ambassadors. The event aimed to educate teens and address vaping-related issues, the district said.

Similarly, in September, Bullard Intermediate Schools hosted a drug prevention presentation for parents, led by Watson. It addressed general drug prevention and to inform the parents of the variety of drugs available, including vaping, gummies and pills, and how to talk to their students about the harmful effects of drugs.

“Bullard is where I reside and my kids go to school, so I of course have a personal interest in the health and well-being of the students in this district,” Watson said. “The kids and parents deserve to be educated on the public health concerns that involve them and their community. They too are being affected by this issue, even in their small rural town.”

Bullard ISD’s stance reinforces its commitment to student health and safety.

“We believe this policy will serve as a deterrent and reinforce our dedication to promoting responsible behavior and maintaining a drug-free campus,” Bullard ISD said in a statement.

The presentation at Bullard ISD also emphasized the alarming trend of highlighters being repurposed as devices for vaping, a method that can be especially dangerous.

“Safer is not the same as safe, and research suggests vaping is bad for your heart, (and) lungs, and just as addictive as traditional cigarettes,” Watson said. “Everyone plays an important role in helping youth reject or quit vaping along with all other tobacco products.”

Additionally, parents were warned about the growing issue of vaping alcohol, which poses severe health risks, including potential lung and brain damage. These emerging practices not only increase the likelihood of accidental ingestion or poisoning but also elevate the dangers of long-term physical and neurological harm.

Staying aware

As an athlete, Gauna knows it is important to maintain her health. She has asthma, plays soccer and hopes to play professionally. She said through the Say What! club at her school, she and fellow members aim to educate people, including other student-athletes like herself.

“(Smoke) really triggers it, and it messes with my performance, especially while I’m playing. So with that, I want to help reach out to especially the athletes within the community, to help them be aware of how it really impacts them and their performance, because I know, especially if they’re trying to get scouted or something, they want to be on their game.”

Many of her peers do not understand how harmful vaping is. But once they realize how it affects them, it clicks, Gauna said.

“Most students think, ‘oh, it’s not that bad, because it … won’t happen to me.’ But once they find something that can relate to them and that will impact them, they’ll be able to make that change and realize how harmful it is,” Gauna said.

Officials urge parents to talk to kids

In order to continue reducing vaping trends, funding is needed for educational programs in schools and the community. Properly educating students about the long-term health effects is crucial, Beall said.

Programs like UT Tyler’s Peers Against Tobacco program — which aims to prevent people from trying e-cigarettes and vapes for the first time — can be better supported with pharmacists counseling patients about these programs, Beall said.

More parent involvement can help reduce the rates as well. Beall advises watching out for these signs of vaping: a minty/fruity smell, vapor, and kids tucking at their shirts to hide the vape. She also advises parents to talk to their kids about vaping. Vapes come in many different forms, some even have screens, Beall said.

“It looks like a harmless object and unless you knew to look for that, like say as a parent or a guardian, you would have no idea that that was actually a vape product,” she added.

Texas Health and Human Services has a page that offers additional sources on not only how to talk to their kids but how to seek help if needed: www.dshs.texas.gov/vaping/vaping-resources. You can also call the Texas Quitline 1-877-YES-QUIT for help.

Parents should be aware of what their kids are doing. Some families think that because they do not use them, their children are not. However, they are exposed to vaping through their peers and social media, Fail said.

“Home is the No. 1 area that it’s got to start with,” he added

In addition, increasing access to nicotine cessation programs could better help address these rates, according to Beall.

“We want to help kids live long healthy lives and avoiding nicotine and nicotine products is definitely one way to go about that, but there is help,” she said. “So if you do find yourself, needing counseling and support or medications to help quit, there’s absolutely nothing wrong with asking for that help.”