Combating The Teen Vaping Epidemic

The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office Junior Deputy Academy is dedicated to educating 5th grade students about the serious dangers posed by vaping—a public health crisis that has rapidly emerged as one of the most significant threats to youth in the past decade. With the goal of slowing and eventually stopping the teen vaping epidemic, the program seeks to prevent young children from beginning to use flavored e-cigarettes such as JUUL, Blu, and other popular vape pens.

Raising Awareness About Vaping & Its Effects

The Junior Deputy Academy focuses on increasing student awareness of the health risks associated with vaping. Participants learn how vaping affects the body, including the dangers of second-hand smoke, which can be just as harmful as directly vaping. The program emphasizes the serious correlation between vaping and cancer, dispelling myths that e-cigarettes are safer than traditional tobacco products.

Understanding The Risks Of Nicotine & Vaping Devices

A critical component of the curriculum is educating students about nicotine’s addictive nature in all its forms. The Academy teaches that nicotine is a highly addictive drug, regardless of how it is consumed. Additionally, students are informed about the physical dangers associated with vaping devices, including the fact that these battery-operated products contain heating elements that can explode, potentially causing severe injuries or even death.

Highlighting Regulatory & Chemical Concerns

The program also addresses the lack of FDA regulation for e-cigarette products, bringing attention to the added chemicals in these devices that may have unknown, long-term health effects. By providing this comprehensive education, the Junior Deputy Academy empowers students with the knowledge they need to make informed, healthy choices and avoid the risks associated with vaping.

Locations

Click on the window icon (upper right corner) of the map below to expand. List of all program locations is included with expanded view of map. Locations are also listed on this page below the map.