The Alarming Rise of Vaping Among Elementary School Children
A concerning update from the Just Say Something team on youth vaping in schools
In a recent episode of Just Say Something's weekly podcast, CEO Philip Clark sat down with Maureen Gavin, their newest team member who joined in August 2024. Just Say Something team members have been visiting schools throughout Greenville County to provide vaping and tobacco education to students of all ages. What she's discovered is deeply troubling: children as young as six years old are using vape products in our schools.
Elementary School Vaping: A Growing Crisis
The Just Say Something team was recently called to an elementary school after administrators discovered seven six-year-olds vaping on the playground. This isn't an isolated incident. Through their educational sessions at multiple schools, they've found that many elementary and middle school children are getting vapes from people in their apartment complexes, relatives, and even parents.
Most disturbing is the revelation that family members, such as aunts, uncles, and other relatives between 18-25 years of age, are willingly providing these harmful products to children. One emotional student shared that both his parents vape, even though his father, a military veteran with a service-related injury, had developed cancer. The child expressed fear that both parents might become sick or potentially die from cancer-related complications.
Middle and High School Trends
The situation doesn't improve in older grades. Many students reported trying their first vape between ages 6 and 12. In high schools, bathroom stalls have become vaping hotspots, with multiple students crowding into a single stall to share vape devices.
Janitors are finding themselves spending significant time—up to 30 minutes per incident—removing toilets from walls to extract vapes from plumbing. Students are increasingly creative with hiding places, including bathroom ceilings, behind trash cans, and behind or inside toilets. This epidemic affects not just the students but creates additional work for administrative and janitorial staff.
Why Children Are Attracted to Vaping
The vaping industry has created products that appeal directly to young people:
Devices that look like toys or games
Products resembling school supplies
Vapes with colorful screens
Candy and fruit flavors
Packaging designed to attract young users
For elementary school children especially, these devices seem more like toys than harmful substances. They look playful, taste like candy, and don't show immediate negative health effects, making it challenging to convince young people of the dangers.
Health Concerns on the Rise
While long-term research on vaping is still developing, medical professionals are already seeing significant health impacts. Local doctors report treating more adolescents for vaping-related injuries, known as EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping Associated Lung Injury).
In a particularly disturbing case, a 15-year-old Greenville patient experienced collapsed lungs and required breathing assistance through a tube—yet described this life-threatening situation as "a cool experience," demonstrating how disconnected young people can be from understanding the serious health consequences.
The Bigger Picture
The problem appears to be underreported in official statistics. The Just Say Something team emphasizes that vaping correlates with poor grades and studies have connected vaping with future opioid use. A child who begins vaping at age six faces a troubling trajectory of potential addiction issues.
Taking Action
Just Say Something encourages all adults: parents, grandparents, caregivers, neighbors, to have open conversations with children about the dangers of vaping. If you're unsure how to approach these difficult discussions, Just Say Something offers free resources to help give you the tools and strategies you need.
For more information about Just Say Something's programs or to access resources for talking with children about vaping and other substance use, visit our website or contact our team at 864-467-4099.
Just Say Something is dedicated to educating communities about substance use prevention and providing resources for families to have difficult but necessary conversations.