According to the Virginia Department of Health, vaping is an epidemic among young people, with more than one in four high school students and one in 10 middle school students reported vaping in the past 30 days.
To combat vaping, Chesterfield County Public Schools invites parents and guardians to “How to Talk to Your Kids About Vaping.” Two sessions of this free program are scheduled:
- 6:30-7:45 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Career and Technical Center @ Hull (13900 Hull Street Road); register at bit.ly/stopvape_ctc.
- 6:30-7:45 p.m. Oct. 12 at Thomas Dale High School main campus (3626 W. Hundred Road); register at bit.ly/stopvape_TDHS.
“It’s important for our parents and young people to understand just how dangerous and unhealthy vaping is,” said Dr. Merv Daugherty, superintendent of Chesterfield County Public Schools. “We have to help our children with this because vaping endangers their health and their futures.”
Both sessions will cover:
- Health risks of substance use during adolescence and young adulthood
- Myths, trends and concerns about vaping and marijuana use in young people
- Information and resources needed to address this issue with children
Experienced presenter Barbara Burke will lead the discussion about the dangers of vaping and how to talk to your children about it. A retired social worker and co-founder of a recovery program at VCU, she has experience engaging families in helping teens change behaviors related to substance use.