News Summary
The San Diego Unified School District has announced the second year of its ‘Voices for Change’ contest to address teen vaping and its effects on mental health. Students from kindergarten to 12th grade are encouraged to create posters or videos that highlight the risks of substance use and promote mental wellness. The initiative, led by Trustee Sabrina Bazzo, is supported by funds from a lawsuit against JUUL and aims to increase awareness and dialogue around the pressing issue of youth vaping.
San Diego, California – The San Diego Unified School District has announced the launch of its “Voices for Change” public service announcement (PSA) contest for the second consecutive year, aiming to tackle the rising issue of teen vaping and its adverse effects on mental health. The initiative is designed to provide students with a creative outlet to express their concerns regarding vaping through art and storytelling.
The urgency of addressing this epidemic is underscored by alarming statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), which reported that 1.63 million students used e-cigarettes last year. This troubling trend has raised significant alarms within educational institutions, as youth vaping is linked to detrimental impacts on key brain functions associated with attention, learning, mood regulation, and impulse control.
Rooted in the need for awareness, the “Voices for Change” contest was spearheaded by San Diego Unified School Board Trustee Sabrina Bazzo. The initiative received support through settlement funds from a lawsuit against the vaping company JUUL, a legal outcome that underscored the disruption caused by vaping in classroom environments. The San Diego Unified School District plans to allocate these funds towards preventive measures and educational efforts regarding vaping.
The contest invites students from kindergarten through 12th grade to participate by creating posters or videos that shine a light on the risks associated with substance use while promoting mental wellness. This year, the contest places a particular focus on engaging middle school students in order to foster dialogue and understanding among a vital demographic that is increasingly vulnerable to vaping pressures.
Trustee Bazzo emphasized the significance of raising awareness among students about the dangers of vaping before they become engaged in such behaviors. The initiative will also include collaboration with students and campus organizations to disseminate information about the contest and its associated health messages.
Winning submissions will not only be featured at school board meetings but will also be shared with parents, staff, and the broader community via the district’s social media platforms. In an effort to further involve families in vaping education, the district advises adults to refrain from vaping around children and to secure vape products within their homes.
Students are encouraged to submit their entries by the upcoming deadline of December 19th. The San Diego Unified School District expresses hopes that this campaign will evolve into a year-round effort supporting the broader wellness goals for students within the district.
As the “Voices for Change” contest progresses, the community is poised to play a crucial role in cultivating a healthier environment for students, fostering awareness around the critical issue of vaping and its potential consequences on young people’s well-being.
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Additional Resources
- CBS8: San Diego Unified Contest to Curb Teen Vaping
- KSAT: City of San Antonio Bans Vape Shops Near Schools
- Times of San Diego: California Ranks Lowest for Youth Vaping
- Wikipedia: Vaping
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Vaping
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