Nassau County ranks 7th in Florida for number of kids who vape

YULEE, FLA. — School leaders in Nassau County say cracking down on vaping is their number one concern.

Most of us remember the powerful anti-tobacco PSAs from the '80s and '90s.

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But when it comes to e-cigarettes, impactful videos of its potentially harmful effects are hard to come by.

It was one of the concerns shared by people who took part in a discussion at Yulee High School on Thursday and there’s a reason Attorney General Ashley Moody chose Nassau County.

“I thought it was important to start in a community that was seeing such a drastic rise to determine again, I go back to why is this happening here?” Moody said.

According to the Florida Department of Health, Nassau County ranks seventh in state for the number of middle and high school students who have vaped.

Baker County sits at number two.

Natasha Drake is on the front lines of the problem not only as a mom but as the principal of Yulee High School.

“My biggest fear as a mom is 'What if my child makes that decision and they don’t know what’s in there?',” Drake said  “They slip it off and share it because you can keep it in your hand and cover it up.”

The Fernandina Beach Police Department said in one school year they confiscated close to 200 devices.

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Leaders want to see stiffer consequences too.

Right now, kids are issued a $25 civil citation if they’re caught vaping.

“Those involved believe the response should be tied to the problem,” Moody said

Leaders agree that educating kids and parents about vaping’s harmful effects should be a key component of the response.

School leaders say they’ve also caught some elementary school aged kids vaping.

Many students say they’re introduced to vaping by older kids and in some cases by their own parents.

Cox Media Group