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District says student vaping seizures fell after stepped-up enforcement
Summary
Griffith Public Schools Director of Safety Dan Young told the board that reported vaping-device seizures fell this school year after a coordinated visibility and enforcement plan; officials said counseling and staff vigilance are part of the response.
Dan Young, director of safety and security for Griffith Public Schools and a school resource officer with the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, told the school board that seizures of vaping devices at the district’s middle and high schools dropped after a districtwide enforcement and visibility plan.
Young said the district seized 16 devices in the first semester of the current school year and eight in the second semester, compared with 43 seizures in the 2023–24 school year. He attributed the reduction to more staff presence in hallways and bathrooms and coordinated law‑enforcement and counseling follow‑ups.
“The number one thing we’re seeing nationwide…is vaping,” Young said at the meeting. “It’s not just about the handcuffs. It’s not just about law enforcement. What can we do to help? Can we get them over to counseling services?”
Why it matters: school officials said vaping and nicotine or cannabis vaping devices pose both a disciplinary and a health risk for students. Young emphasized that the district’s approach blends enforcement with referrals to counseling and student support.
In his presentation, Young broke seizures down by product type: during the first semester the district recorded nine nicotine vapes and seven cannabis vapes; the second semester numbers were five nicotine and three cannabis vapes. Young also warned about potency: “These devices are three times stronger than they were 10 years ago,” he said.
Board discussion and direction: Young described operational steps already in place — saturation of staff presence during passing periods, targeted bathroom checks and collaboration between SROs, administrators and counselors — and said those practices will continue. He framed the work as both public‑safety and student‑support: encounters with students can lead to counseling and other interventions rather than solely criminal referrals.
Next steps: district safety staff said they will continue the visibility strategy and coordinate with counseling to connect students to services when appropriate.
