Schools around the country are installing sensors and cameras to crack down on student vaping and handing out harsh punishments for many who are caught.

When Aaliyah Iglesias was caught vaping at a Texas high school, she didn’t realize how much could be taken from her.

Suddenly, the rest of her high school experience was threatened: being student council president, her role as debate team captain and walking at graduation. Even her college scholarships were at risk. She was sent to the district’s alternative school for 30 days and told she could have faced criminal charges.

Like thousands of other students around the country, she was caught by surveillance equipment that schools have installed to crack down on electronic cigarettes, often without informing students.

  • Flying Squid
    6•11 months ago

    I agree, but I also think there has to be more work done on prevention and cessation of teen smoking and vaping. I started smoking when I was 14 and I didn’t quit until I was in my mid-20s. And I’m one of the lucky ones. I was also only able to quit because I worked in an office where literally every other person smoked, so I got plenty of it second-hand.

      • Flying Squid
        3•11 months ago

        It didn’t for me. At least not at first. That whole office was one huge cloud of smoke at all times (and not just cigarette smoke). I was practically chain smoking just by being there.