School Bullying
Schools today are seeing problems on a grand scale, as we have not seen in the past. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, roughly 1 out of 5 kids ages 12 to 18 are victims of bullying in school. Child psychiatry studies from the University of Turku in Finland show bullying links to a higher risk of mental health problems. Issues bullying heighten are low self-esteem, poor school performance, depression, and suicidal ideation. Over the last decade, bullying has been rising. The mental impact on children has doubled due to social media. For kids today, bullying is an issue that doesn’t stop when they leave the school grounds. Generation Z deals with bullying on a level we as a society have never concerned ourselves with before. Social media and the ease of communication from wireless technology and the internet mean that kids see bullying even from the safety of their homes. Cell phones, social media platforms, chat rooms, or group chat texts expand bullying into cyberspace. Bullying via technology is known as cyberbullying. It’s harmful to self-image and significantly increases depression.
Peer Pressure Vaping
A second issue public schools in the U.S. see today is peer pressure vaping. Schools around the U.S. see a significant increase in vaping and peer pressure to vape. The teenage high school senior vaping rates increased from 22.5% in 2019 to 34.5% in 2020. In the four years since the surveys began, both nicotine and Marijuana vaping have rapidly grown. Did you know? Vaping statistics from the CDC indicate that 1.72 million high school students reported current e-cigarette use.
Most adults acknowledge that vaping does not hold to its original promise to be a safe alternative to help smokers stop smoking. Yet, with continuing research on the long-term effects, it’s found that many school-age children do not have all the facts. Limited information often leads adolescents to falsely determine that vaping is less harmful. Add in a youth’s natural need for independence and feelings of rebellion, and we’ve got a kid ready and willing to try what they feel is only slightly unhealthy. Let’s also remember that a child’s perception of how common something is often lends credence to their acceptance of it. This perception is a subtle form of peer pressure from social groups and friends.
What Is vaping?
Vaping is an electronic cigarette. The vape device heats a liquid, often flavored, to create a vapor you inhale. Vaping devices come in vaping pens, e-cigarettes, and hookahs. They are also available in many shapes and sizes.
Recognizing issues of school bullying and peer pressure vaping
Once the issues are recognized, it’s time to consider the next steps. What happens if it continues and is not maintained? What solutions are there for the problems?
When it comes to bullying, the significant effects are ramifications to the child’s mental well-being. A victim of bullying may find lasting effects deep-rooted and carrying on for years as mental anguish, depression, and hardship for the victim. Research finds that acts of cyberbullying often go unreported. Cyberbullying usually involves shaming, harmful, racist, and derogatory content. When shared anonymously, the victim occasionally feels a heightened sense of personal threat. As a direct result, victimized youths are eight times more likely than their peers to carry a weapon to school. Bullying raises anxiety, depression, and psychosomatic symptoms leading to physical health problems. Extreme consequences include suicidal ideation or desire for revenge. Often, thoughts of revenge include violence and physical harm.
The National Institute of Mental Health cites that in the ages of 15 -24, suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death of young adults. Combining the data of damaging mental effects caused by bullying and suicidal ideation, this statistic becomes increasingly prevalent. We can now see how clear and significant it is to nurture a school climate against bullying.
Recognition of a vaping issue in public schools involves understanding its peer-to-peer acceptance combined with the lack of school district guidelines and procedures. Teens vape as a form of social acceptance. A National Youth and Tobacco survey interviewed middle school and high school students. The survey found that 55.3% of the student body who tried vaping did so because they were curious, and 30.8% vaped because a friend or family member vaped. The peer pressure vaping epidemic is a genuine school safety concern among high school students in the U.S. Although the vaping industry takes a stand that vaping is for adults and intended to help adults quit smoking, the evidence does not support this theory.
Conversely, the advertising for these products focuses on younger generations. Additionally, the product comes in flavors enticing to young people, such as multiple candy flavors, punch, mint, and cinnamon. In 2021, 84.7% of teenagers using vaping devices contained flavoring. Although the flavor often lures kids, what they don’t know is the flavoring, aka Juice, is toxic for them. Flavorings contain chemicals such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to severe lung disease.
The FDA described e-cigarette use among teens as an epidemic and deeply disturbing trend with no signs of abating. One of the many reasons the issue seems unstoppable is that e-cigarette designs look like everyday items. Furthermore, we see many styles that promote hiding them among school supplies. The top-selling e-cigarette in the U.S. today is Juul. Among their popular products are trendy vaping devices that look like USB drives. Other popular styles may include pens and lipstick containers. Juul’s products use nicotine salts. This method of introducing nicotine allows inhaling exceptionally high levels of the toxin with less irritation. Juul’s sleek design and addictive nicotine continue its popularity with Generation Z. Juul pods are known to contain as much nicotine as 20 regular cigarettes. Yet many youths are unaware of the stimulant. Nicotine acts as both a stimulant and a depressant. This stimulant affects our central nervous system, providing a euphoric feeling that wears away into depression. This heightened sense of high and low increases the users’ likelihood of addiction.
Schools begin to take steps for school safety
How to stop bullying? Educational resources have begun a nationwide bullying prevention program to heighten bullying awareness. Many school districts no longer accept the outdated concept that these behaviors are part of the growing process. School staff provide parents and kids with bullying resources and help if a bullying incident occurs. School personnel educate on bullying concepts, harassment, effects, and prevention throughout the school year. Furthermore, many schools have begun educating children in early childhood and elementary school.
As the youth vaping epidemic grows, the school administrator and staff are cracking down on offenders. A school district may impose heavy sanctions such as suspension and, at times, expulsion. While these punishments may deter a small number of children, teens naturally have a rebellious attitude. They do not fully consider consequences until after the fact. Therefore, many schools opt to send home information for parents on what to watch out for. Unfortunately, countless parents don’t see an issue or overlook warning signs. After all, parents trust their kids for the most part and understand that kids make bad choices. Parenting takes on the job of supporting and helping our children as they grow into self-sufficient individuals.
On the other hand, some public schools began drug testing kids found with vaping paraphernalia. As youths can also use these devices to smoke Marijuana, drug testing is allowed. Further punishments seen among educational institutions include required substance counseling. Yet, with the overwhelming response from educational facilities and the seemingly still rising use and pressure to vape. It becomes clear that, overall, punishment may not be the best solution.
This is when it comes time to look at prevention, not punishment. Here’s the newest solution…
A security device that detects bullying and vaping.
Technology has now supplied security with a security device made to detect bullying and vape activity. IMS Technology & Security installs the latest technology in advanced school security systems. The HALO vape detection and gunshot prevention system addresses the most prominent issues in our public and private schools today. The new technology for school security is a brilliant all-in-one solution addressing multiple issues seen in our educational systems.
How does it work?
The system contains highly sensitive audio and THC smoke sensors. Our set-up is an entirely hands-free acoustic alarm triggered by voice command words. Acoustic sensors pick up trigger words and alert the administration of a student needing help. For example, if someone calls out for “help!” New audio technology allows for assistance where video surveillance is not permissible. Acoustic sensors prevent bullying and fights in bathrooms and locker rooms. These areas have previously been unmonitored due to civil rights violations and privacy policies. Likewise, the new sensor technology reduces aggression, bullying behavior, and criminal activity on school property. Audio alerts also increase the detection of staff in need of help.
Next, the system is also supplied with updated smoke detection for vaping exhalants. These new smoke sensors identify vape smoke and THC smoke as well as other gasses and vapors. Placing these detectors in bathrooms, locker rooms, break rooms, gymnasiums, and auditoriums provides a new level of security for the school district.
IMS Technology & Security installs Halo vape sensors in many local schools as a cost-effective solution to bullying and vaping on school property.
Protecting our children in school.
Vaping and school violence, including bullying, are genuine issues sweeping American schools. The valid and authentic fears that our students, parents, and teachers face daily continue to rise. That’s why we at IMS take your concerns seriously. IMS is proud to be part of the new action to take control of the obstacles facing our educational systems. The scariest thing about bullying and vaping is our seeming inability to control the epidemic. IMS fights to seek out the best security solutions. We at IMS give children a safe place to learn, play, and grow. IMS Technology & Security strives to build safer communities so your children can live and grow up without fear. Public safety is the number one priority.
Learn more about the Halo system, bullying prevention, and vaping in our schools. Call IMS Technology & Security to consult with our security experts. We’ll put your school back on the map as a top safe place to learn.
An onsite assessment helps us identify gaps in your security holes and develop a specifically tailored security system for your company. We design a security system that meets your convenience, pricing, necessary security protocols, system operations, and data storage standards. We work closely with you to find the perfect solution to any security problem. Whether you’re starting from scratch or integrating into a partial system that needs upgrades, we see the best mdm can provide the right solution for your needs.