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Oklahoma schools are back in session. Recently, Tobacco Stops With Me, a program of TSET, spoke with two Oklahoma teachers about the daily challenge of vaping in schools.
They confirmed what we have heard across the state - vaping is a major problem. One in four Oklahoma teens report vaping in the past 30 days. With sweet candy flavors and devices that hide in plain sight, many are vaping at school.
One teacher said the tricky designs make it hard to enforce the rules. "Is that a vape, or is that a marker? It is genuinely hard to tell."
To combat student vaping, schools must divert limited resources and staff time to monitor bathrooms and other vaping hotspots. Vaping is a drain on schools and distracting to other students.
Once primarily a problem in high schools, vaping has become an issue in middle and elementary schools. Kids as young as third grade have been caught vaping.
"Kids bring vapes to school all the time. Because parents don't realize their true dangers, they don't know to lock them up like they would cigarettes or alcohol. All the kid sees is a brightly colored toy that adults put in their mouth."
- Heather, Special Education
Read more at Tobacco Stops With Me HERE.
New resources and application dates are available for Oklahoma school districts, school sites and communities applying for TSET Healthy Incentive Grants.
“TSET incentive grants are a way for us to partner with local schools and communities to add amenities, improve access and support improved health behaviors,” said Julie Bisbee, Executive Director of TSET. “Through these grants, TSET partners with local decision makers to break down barriers to safe physical activity and healthy choices.”
Application Periods:
- School districts and sites: Sept. 1—29, 2023 and Jan. 8—Feb. 7, 2024
- Communities: Nov. 1—30, 2023 and March 1—29, 2024
Updated resources include checklists for tobacco policies and ordinances as well as a sample application.
To date, TSET has awarded over $8.1 million in incentive grants.
Click HERE for more information.
Perspective: Julie Bisbee in the Journal Record
Recent data indicates teens are driving increases in e-cigarette sales. Our state has made great progress in reducing teen smoking, but e-cigarettes threaten to upend that progress. The data tell us this is not the time to be complacent.
Disguised as pens, highlighters and key fobs, vapes are easy to hide in plain sight. Nearly 22% of Oklahoma teens vape, many at school. Schools are forced to divert precious resources to combat this. To effectively stop teen vaping, Oklahoma needs to update vapor laws, including e-cigarette taxation, retailer licensure, compliance enforcement and educational programs.
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Shape Your Future provides Oklahoma teachers with free classroom posters shipped at no cost to local schools, grade-specific worksheets, information on local grant opportunities, seasonal classroom activity guides, helpful blogs and more.
Everything can be found throughout the school year at syfok.com/teachers.
Episode 41 of the TSET Healthy Living Podcast examines how a recent reorganization will help TSET better serve Oklahomans. It also dives into local innovations helping more Oklahomans enjoy access to healthy foods, including a unique produce store that food advocate Loretta Merritt opened in rural Cherokee County.
"We are set up in an area that is 20 miles in any direction from any groceries," said Merrit. "It is on the arterial that goes to town. It is convenient to the rural people there and it's just dedicated to creating affordable access for people that don't have it otherwise."
Available on TSET's website and everywhere podcasts are listened to: Spotify, TuneIn, Stitcher, PodBean, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts.
TSET is staffed by a dedicated and passionate group of people. This month, we would like to introduce Allison McMichael.
Allison McMichael is the Director of Finance for TSET. Prior to coming to TSET, McMichael led finance and analysis functions for large private sector companies, public schools and state agencies. Her extensive financial background includes time as the Commercial Excellence Director for CFS Brands, the Financial Planning and Analysis Manager at OU Health, the Budget Manager for Oklahoma City Public Schools and the Director of Finance for the Oklahoma Arts Council.
McMichael holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Central Oklahoma and a bachelor’s in business administration from Southwestern Oklahoma State University.
Read about the rest of the team HERE.
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