Vaping: The Story that Swept the School
As students at TABC, we are all aware of how vaping has become a hot-button issue in our school and community. I, along with another journalist, Dovid Pearlman, had the privilege to sit down with Head of School, Rabbi Asher Yablok, about the issue of vaping among teenagers in our community. We talked about various issues including the dangers of vaping, the new school policy, and a take-away message for all TABC students.
According to R’ Yablok, TABC, along with other modern orthodox schools in the area, formally began addressing the issue this past summer, discussing the problems with vaping and similar forms of electronic cigarettes.
“Going into the school year, it was something we already knew about,” Rabbi Yablok said. “Additionally, electronic cigarettes have already been addressed in the student handbook long before, but now we needed a readdressment given the newly accessible vaping trend.”
R’ Yablok shared with us the new school policy: During school hours, there is a zero tolerance rule if you are found using, or in the possession of, vape, or even if you are just in the presence of someone else vaping and you are not; these warrant grounds for expulsion. However, outside of school hours, if TABC finds out you have been vaping, you are given recommended counseling and a meeting with the school and a second offense is grounds for expulsion.
Interestingly, Rabbi Yablok said that this is currently the short term school policy. However, due to the extreme usage problem the school faces with vaping, the policy is liable to change in the future. He also noted that if students who are using vape are open with the administration about their problem, “we will help, we will do everything we can and it will surely not ruin your standing in the school. . . If you are honest and confess to vaping in the school, TABC is willing to help and it will be much better than if you are found out.”
Rabbi Yablok also had valuable information to share on the health risks of vaping and the electronic cigarettes. He, as well as the school, are concerned with the fact that there is no legal regulation of substances found inside pods used for juul and vape. It is a common misconception that vape is a light alternative to smoking; many people fail to recognize the high doses of nicotine, and potential for addiction, contained in these pods. Additionally, dealers often reuse these pods and fill them with more dangerous, and illegal, substances, such as weed and other drugs.
“We do not know what you are putting in your system and to our indication there can be some problematic or dangerous stuff,” said Rabbi Yablok. “In fact, market research shows that these juul and vape companies’ target audience is specifically teenagers who are going to come back for more.”
Ultimately, there are two major concerns, one, the dangerous substances found in vape, and two, the gateway vape opens to even more addictive and dangerous substances.
TABC, as well as the broader Jewish community, are taking initiatives to raise awareness about the prevalence of vaping and juuling in our area. On Thursday December 28, TABC partnered with another high school and the Bergen County Prevention Coalition, offering a parent workshop. This workshop taught parents how to set up their teenager’s bedroom to find certain drug paraphernalia. However, Rabbi Yablok emphasized that the key to solving this problem is to take responsibility on an individual level and own up to your mistakes.
As a final takeaway message to TABC students, Rabbi Yablok stressed that the school is not out to catch students using vape, and hopes to help students using vape to stop and live a healthier life. Students are welcomed and encouraged to come forward and be honest about their vape or juul usage and should not be afraid, because they are truly doing the right thing.
