The war on drugs has taken a new turn over the past half-decade with the growing popularity of synthetic drugs such as spice and bath salts. And now, teens are using e-cigarettes

The National Institute of Drug Abuse suggests that 17% of American high school students cannot say no to drugs.

A new trend that has become an epidemic among teens may increase that percentage into something more significant.

“I was driving down the road the other day and one of our students was in her car smoking an electronic cigarette,” says Principal Dan Serrano, “I don’t know why they would smoke those.”

Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, are battery powered devices that usually contain doses of nicotine or other additives, such as flavoring (e.g. fruit, mint). According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) during 2011-2014, the number of students in grades 6-12 who use e-cigs have increased from 3.8% to 6.8%.

E-cigs have only just recently become a problem for most high schools, including here in the CUSD district. At Perry High, some students are guilty of possession of these E-cigs.

“There are a couple of students are suspended from smoking electronic cigarettes on campus,” says Serrano.

E-cigs have been added to the school’s disciplinary code, along with prohibiting other substances such as tobacco and alcohol.

“We talked about it and put it into our policy this year under the tobacco part of the disciplinary code,” stated Serrano.

With the electronic cigarettes added to the school’s policy, students will no longer have the excuse to smoke freely without consequences.