State looks to prevent tobacco use in younger students

The curriculum for middle-schoolers across the state could soon change to address the growing pressure to use e-cigarettes. State education leaders said they want to stop the urge to smoke or vape before high school.

Posted 12:49 p.m. Feb 1, 2019 — Updated 4:38 p.m. Feb 1, 2019

Emmy Victor

, WRAL reporter

CARY, N.C. — The Health Education standards for middle-schoolers across the state may soon list e-cigarette prevention, to address the growing pressure teenagers are facing to use them.

In Wake County, tobacco is prohibited on school property, but that's not stopping students from using the smoking products.

The district has had about 250 tobacco violations every academic year for the past three years.

State education leaders said they want to stop the urge to smoke or vape before high school.

High school e-cigarette use has jumped nearly 80%. Now, the FDA wants new regulations

Students learn about tobacco use and prevention through the state's healthy living standards, taught from grades 6 to 9 in most school districts, including Wake County.

North Carolina's Department of Instruction has standards that allows school districts to build curriculum around alcohol and drug prevention.

However, vaping, which is a more recent health issue, is now being considered by state education leaders.

Wake Schools is hoping to include vaping prevention in curriculum as early as next school year.

An American Lung Association report gave the North Carolina government's tobacco use prevention programs an "F" this month.

The report said the government should restore funding for prevention and cessation programs, including QuitlineNC; incrase the state cigarette tax and expand laws to ban smoking from all public places and private worksites.

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