School Staff Experiences With Vaping Disciplinary Procedures in Connecticut Schools: a Qualitative Study of Middle...

Vaping is the most common form of drug use among U.S. students, yet schools struggle to enforce policies due to the discreet nature of devices and the increasing social acceptance of vaping.

This study explored middle school staff perceptions of disciplinary procedures related to student vaping. We conducted 20 qualitative interviews with schoolteachers, administrators, counselors, and resource officers using a semi-structured interview guide during fall 2023 and spring 2024. Middle school staff were recruited from four economically diverse schools in southern Connecticut.

Five themes related to school vaping policies were identified through inductive analysis: (1) the presence of suspicious vaping behavior, (2) the inefficient investigation process, (3) the need for concrete evidence and time spent to obtain it, (4) school staff's mixed perceptions of caregiver responses, and (5) inadequate and inconsistent disciplinary procedures. School staff identify the inefficient investigations of suspicious behavior, as well as inconsistent consequences as ongoing contributors to vaping in middle schools. Data suggest a need for clear communication for middle school students, caregivers, and school staff around vaping policies and responses if a student is vaping in school.

This study highlights the challenges schools face in addressing adolescent vaping, including the investigative burden on staff and inconsistent disciplinary responses. Clearer school policies designed to support effective, equitable, and sustainable responses to student vaping, along with policies integrating vaping education and cessation support, may ease these burdens and the potential long-term public health risks of youth vaping.