Vaping common in Moscow schools

Vaping is the No. 1 drug-related issue in the Moscow School District, and it has school officials considering stricter punishments for students.

While cigarettes were once the popular tobacco choice, McKenzie Fosberg, school resource officer for the district, said vaping appears to be filling that void and has become common at the Moscow high and middle schools.

In Idaho, it's illegal for minors to possess a vape or consume tobacco. It's also against district policy for drug paraphernalia - including vapes - to be on school grounds.

Any minor caught in possession of a vape can be cited and fined up to $74, Fosberg said. She said the vapes are also confiscated and destroyed.

Fosberg, the district's resource officer since September, said enforcing district policy and law on vaping has proven challenging, in part because school property is surrounded by city. Some high school students get around the rules by keeping the devices in vehicles parked off campus or by merely crossing the street to vape.

Fosberg said she has also encountered parents buying vapes for their children, as some parents would rather their children smoke a vape than a cigarette because they smell better and are considered less harmful.

Fosberg would like to see district policies on vaping strengthened, noting the current policy is short and broad.

She said she is working to impose a protocol system where punishments increase based on the number of offenses by a student.

Fosberg said marijuana has also seen an increase in popularity since it was legalized in Washington state.

She said enforcing laws against marijuana has become exceptionally difficult because the stereotypical leafy green marijuana that could often be found in a plastic Ziploc is something of the past.

Now, most confiscated marijuana in the schools is coming packaged from the Evergreen State.

Fosberg said she has confiscated marijuana caramels and brownies from students, but unless authorities read the label on the candy closely, they may never know it came from a marijuana dispensary.

Even vape juice can contain marijuana, Fosberg said.

Being right next to two major universities doesn't help Fosberg keep tobacco, marijuana or alcohol from the students she is tasked with protecting.

"All they need is someone 21 or someone with an ID that says they're 21," she said.

Fosberg said in order to help prevent youth from engaging in illegal behavior, it is important they be informed about all of the consequences.

"Then they can weigh their options," she said.

Moscow School District Prevention Coordinator Miranda Strey said with vape companies targeting younger populations and peer pressure thrown into the mix, it's no surprise the middle school has started seeing more vapes.

Strey said it is important for adults to start teaching students about the negative effects of vaping, smoking and drinking.

She said youth need to be taught not only say "no," but also feel good and comfortable about saying "no."

"It's hard as a parent to talk about hard things," Strey said, "but it is important to have open and honest conversations."

Katie Short can be reached at (208) 883-4633, or by email to kshort@dnews.com.