Niagara County scores funds to combat youth vaping following state legal battle with JUUL

Niagara County officials are aiming to further crackdown on the apparent uptick in vaping among local teens.

Last month, as a part of the $112.7 million that New York state received in the multi-state settlement with JUUL Labs Inc., Niagara County will receive approximately $1.06 million and Orleans-Niagara BOCES will receive just over $507,000.

County Public Health Director Daniel Stapleton said that the funds received from the settlement will be used toward educational programs that spell out the dangers of vaping in local schools and enforcement cracking down on businesses that sell vaping products to minors.

“It’s to go after underage, illegal vaping,” Stapleton said. “It’s an opportunity for us to educate as we do already, and it allows us to engage in partnerships, with schools and the sheriff’s office… we do our education with the sellers of vaping and tobacco products so that they’re aware of this. This is not a safe, healthy alternative to tobacco use.”

According to a report published by the state Department of Health in January, 18.7%, or 1 in 5 high school students, reported vaping nicotine compared to 2.1%, or about 1 in 50 students, who reported smoking cigarettes in 2022, which the agency referred to as “a record low.”

While Niagara Falls City School District Superintendent Mark Laurrie said that the problem persists in the district’s high school, he sees the “distracting practice” predominately rising in their middle schools.

Laurrie first noticed the issue popping up in the district when in-person instruction resumed in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020.

Mathis Calvin III, superintendent of Lockport City District said his district shares similar concerns over vaping amongst students and they remain “vigilant” in addressing the issue in schools at all levels in the district.

“We have recently strengthened our curriculum to comprehensively educate students about the risks associated with vaping. Additionally, we have forged partnerships with local agencies to actively combat this issue,” Calvin said.

Both superintendents indicated that suspending students who are caught vaping in schools has been an overall ineffective form of discipline.

“I would prefer those students go through something we call Youth Court,” Laurrie said. Youth Court is a chance for the kids if they’re vaping in school... to not be suspended but to get...a consequence of having to be educated and get counseling and check in periodically as opposed to a suspension ... It makes no sense to suspend a kid, letting them be home for five days and spending the day vaping, coming back and nothing has changed.”

“We are committed to providing support to students struggling with vaping habits by referring them to qualified drug and alcohol counselors who specialize in cessation programs,” Calvin added. “Our collective efforts are aimed at ensuring the safety and well-being of our students, encouraging them to refrain from vaping, and supporting those who seek to quit.”

Moving forward, Laurrie believes having increased educational programs, particularly for middle school-aged students is the best way to tackle the issue.

“I know we can’t suspend or discipline our way out of the problem. We’ve got to educate and talk about better alternatives.” Laurrie said.

Stapleton said their approach to tackling the issue locally would “piggyback” off the types of educational programs that already exist to stymie tobacco use.

Stapleton has observed that while the use of tobacco products amongst teens countywide has greatly decreased over the last decade, the use of electronic cigarettes and vapes has continued to increase over that span.

“We’re seeing that it’s hitting a lot more adolescents as compared to tobacco use,” Stapleton said.

In November 2019, State Attorney General Letitia James sued vape manufacturer JUUL Labs Inc. for the company’s role in an apparent uptick in youth vaping. In the suit, the attorney general argued JUUL, “misled consumers about the nicotine content of its products, misrepresented the safety and therapeutic value of its products by stating that they were safer than cigarettes, and failed to prevent minors from purchasing its products in stores across the country.”

A multi-state settlement with the company totaling $462 million was reached in April 2023.