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Student advisory council urges wider vape-detector coverage, education and support groups to curb youth substance use
Summary
Members of the Mesquite ISD Superintendent—s Student Advisory Council recommended expanded vape-detectors, districtwide prevention assemblies, weekly support meetings and first-person testimony as ways to reduce teen substance use.
Students on the Mesquite ISD Superintendent—s Student Advisory Council presented research and recommendations May 12 aimed at reducing student substance use, focusing on vaping, alcohol and other drugs.
Nut graf: Student presenters recommended a combination of equipment, education and peer support to prevent and address substance use: install vape detectors more broadly across campuses, hold prevention assemblies for students and parents, create weekly support meetings led by intervention counselors and include testimonials from recovering addicts.
At Mesquite High School and other schools represented on the council, students said existing measuresvape detectors and staff supervisionhelp but are unevenly deployed. The council recommended district investment in detector coverage beyond restrooms and central locations, stronger hallway monitoring strategies and structured support groups modeled on age-appropriate adaptations of community recovery programs. A student presenter cited district counsel saying such peer-support options can be implemented consistent with statute: "This is allowed under the Texas Education Code 38.351," the student said during the presentation.
Suggested steps included a districtwide prevention assembly at the start of the year involving intervention counselors, school resource officers and nurses to educate students and parents; weekly support meetings for students led by trained intervention counselors; and inviting or recording testimonials from recovering addicts to show real-world consequences and recovery paths.
Students said the aim is not to stop every instance of use but to reduce incidents and increase early intervention using resources already in the district. Trustees heard the presentations but did not take formal action at the meeting; administration said it would consider the recommendations as part of ongoing student support and prevention planning.
Ending: The student council presentations will be available to district leadership for further review; no budget or implementation timeline was announced at the board meeting.
