Top private and former Model C schools are using sniffer dogs and inviting lung specialists to address pupils in a bid to curb the shockingly high incidence of vaping — the smoking of e-cigarettes — by schoolchildren.
Johannesburg-based pulmonologist Dr Anton Meyberg confirmed treating 50 patients aged 12 to 18 with respiratory problems linked to vaping from January to May compared to 10 over the same period last year.
The Association of Public Boys’ Schools of South Africa (Apbsa), representing 40 schools, said according to anecdotal evidence received, some parents were buying their children vapes and vaping products as birthday gifts.
At least 10 schools across the country, responding this week to the Sunday Times, have seen an increase in the number of pupils caught vaping.
David Look, director of discipline at Hilton College in KwaZulu-Natal, said they invited a leading lung specialist to educate pupils and staff on the health risks of vaping.
“This was followed by a short amnesty period during which boys were given the opportunity to voluntarily surrender their vaping devices and seek assistance within the school if they believed they were addicted.”
They were told after the amnesty period, “random and unannounced vape searches would be conducted within our legal ambit”.
“Individuals found in possession of vapes may face severe consequences, which may include exclusion, where appropriate.”
The school contracts the services of a company using sniffer dogs to conduct searches “to demonstrate the seriousness with which we view the vaping habit and the inherent dangers therein”.
“No vapes were found by the sniffer dogs. We will continue to do routine checks as per our proactive plan.”
In November, Hilton College principal George Harris informed parents in a letter that he and senior staff had spoken to the boys about the dangers of vaping.
“I am not convinced we are winning the war on this issue and my request is that you speak to your son about the dangers of this practice.”
There is no legislation addressing vaping for adolescents as the law does not make provisions for the sale of vapes to under-18s.
Preliminary findings this week of a study by the University of Pretoria, examining e-cigarette use and its association with unhealthy diets among the youth, suggested advertising, curiosity and social influence were reasons youngsters started vaping, as opposed to quitting smoking cigarettes. Fruit-flavoured vapes were the most popular.
Australia last month banned recreational vaping and tightened e-cigarette laws to try to halt an alarming rise in teenage vaping which was “the number one behavioural issue in high schools”.
The BBC reported earlier this week that vapes confiscated from pupils contain high levels of lead, nickel and chromium, according to tests by Baxter College. The results showed children using them could be inhaling more than twice the daily safe amount of lead and nine times the safe amount of nickel. High levels of lead exposure in children can affect the central nervous system and brain development, according to the World Health Organisation.
Shaun Simpson, principal of Rondebosch Boys’ High in Cape Town, confirmed that 97 out of 586 boys, including 45 in matric, who responded to a survey in September admitted to vaping. “Eight indicated they were unable to abstain from vaping during school hours.”
Those caught vaping were tested for illegal substances and sniffer dogs were also used.
“A strange addendum to the problem is that we are experiencing a rise in broken toilet seats as learners stand on the toilet to blow the vapour out of windows. It has become a problem.”
Mark Smith, principal of Westerford High School in Cape Town, informed parents two weeks ago that “we have reached a point where we, as a school community, need to acknowledge that vaping is a major problem at Westerford, as it is in so many schools”.
“It is proving to be very difficult to stop what is obviously a growing trend of unacceptable behaviour.”
Smith said “sanctions such as detention do not seem to deter the pupils as it is an addiction”.
The principal of an Afrikaans high school in Johannesburg said pupils often “voluntarily hand in their vapes” before police sniffer dog searches. “Our experience is that parents often buy vapes for their children and allow them to use a vape.”
There’s a fair amount of parental acceptance because parents are saying: ‘Well, this is not nearly as bad as drinking and smoking tobacco’
— Tim Gordon, Apbsa CEO
Andy Crighton, deputy principal of Bryanston High School in Johannesburg, confirmed an increase in pupils caught vaping “and a decrease in cases of students caught smoking”.
“Students get an official warning letter and four detentions on their first offence.”
Doug Prior, principal of Stirling High School in East London, said vaping has become far more popular than smoking cigarettes among the youth.
Commenting on the incidence of vaping at the 40 boys’ schools, Apbsa CEO Tim Gordon said: “It is serious in the sense that it is widespread and it seems to be growing.
“There’s a fair amount of parental acceptance because parents are saying: ‘Well, this is not nearly as bad as drinking and smoking tobacco.’
“When we ask the kids where they got it from, some say their parents gave it to them for their birthday.”
Meyberg said vaping among pupils was “an epidemic” and 99% of vapes contained addictive nicotine. “Nicotine affects attention and can cause learning difficulties and mood disorders. Those using it become angry, short-tempered and anxious.
“Vapes are not harmless. It’s a drug; it’s addictive and expensive and dangerous.”
Meyberg said young adults were attracted to vapes because they came in “wonderful flavours” and had “been made cool”.
“There are even vaping parties where they see how big the clouds of vapour they can blow and how big the circles they can make from it. But these kids have a poor understanding of what’s inside the vapes.”
Prof Richard van Zyl-Smit, a consultant pulmonologist at the University of Cape Town’s lung institute, said their pilot study at a few high-income schools found one in five matrics was vaping.
Basic education department spokesperson Elijah Mhlanga said the increase in the rate of substance abuse among young people of school-going age was a reflection of social challenges.
“Schools are urged to work with parents to implement measures that will reduce and eradicate substance abuse completely.”
— Additional reporting Sipokazi Fokazi
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