LEON COUNTY, Fla. — Leon County Schools are asking students to put down the vape pens and the district wants to help them do it.
It's all about education. Leaders with Leon County Schools say they know how serious of an epidemic vaping is and they want students to know, too.
LCS already requires students to take five hours of mental health classes and moving forward, vaping is part of the curriculum.
Students will learn the risks and what's been happening to people who vape. The schools also have a safety and health advocate on campus.
LCS says with so many people who vape being underage, the district knows students are easy targets.
"I hope we can somehow convince our students not to go down this path. I'm afraid we're already pretty far down the path. A lot of our students are already participating in these products," said Dee Dee Rasmussen, LCS Board Chair.
The district is also developing an online help system, so if students want to get help with quitting they'll have a support system, too.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention confirms 42 people have died from vaping.
It has been connected to more than 2,000 lung illnesses reported.
