I looked forward to writing the November article to fit the “Thanksgiving” theme. The CDC’s “Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students-National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2024”, Morbidity and Morality Weekly Report, /October 17, 2024, certainly gives us reason to be thankful. It shares that youth use of nicotine products has continued to decline yet adds that comprehensive and sustained evidence-based tobacco control strategies are needed. That is what I was planning to focus on. However, I recently received an email from a young man I had the privilege of formally working with. He emailed me asking if I could help or give him any direction in his time of need. He mentors and is the “Big Brother” of a young man who finds himself in a difficult situation. He was caught at school with a vape and then a vape was found in his car on school property. He is now facing expulsion.
As a former school administrator, I appreciate that schools are the “front lines” of our youth’s substance use and are uniquely positioned to identify and support students who may be addicted to nicotine or at risk of addiction. Schools can design their education and disciplinary practices to help prevent youth from starting and offer supportive approaches when students are caught using nicotine products. The CDC said, ” The most effective approaches to help students quit tobacco use are through counseling and education. “We must move away from the old mindset of zero tolerance policies and adopt appropriately structured “alternative-to-suspension” programs that incorporate cessation strategies and guide students toward quitting nicotine products while remaining in school.
The use of expulsion and suspension is shown to increase the likelihood of negative educational outcomes. These outcomes include lower test scores, higher dropout rates, and reduced likelihood of postsecondary education. It is important to understand that according to the U.S. Department of Education, there is a significant difference in the use of punitive discipline based on race and ethnicity of students. Black students are much more likely to be suspended and expelled. Moving away from punitive discipline and focusing on supportive approaches will have the benefit of supporting student academic achievement, improving health, and decreasing inequities.
It’s time for a change.