O’Fallon Township High School Principal and Board Focus on Vaping Prevention Efforts

O’FALLON, Ill. — O’Fallon Township High School Principal Dan Howe recently told the school board that vaping remains a persistent problem in high schools, including at OTHS, where staff are increasing supervision and information campaigns while enforcing strict discipline for students caught with nicotine or THC vapes.

Howe spoke to the school board recently in-depth about vaping, the problem of it in all high schools, and O’Fallon’s deterrents.

Howe said vaping devices can be difficult for schools to detect because they “don’t smell like smoke,” and instead may have a “fruity and a sweet smell.” He also described the devices as small, “fit in someone’s palm,” and said it is “a difficult time for schools in fighting this battle.”

Howe told the board that bathrooms are “primarily where vapes are being smoked." He also linked vaping to attendance issues, saying, “Generally speaking, there are a lot of tardiness and vaping appears generally involved."

He said OTHS is dealing with both nicotine and THC (marijuana) based vaping.

Howe cited health concerns regarding vaping, including “addiction, breathing problems, increased heart rate" and urged broader parental and community involvement.

“We as schools need to fight against this, but it is a tough battle,” he said, adding that “even grade schools” are having similar vaping issues and that schools “need the public to promote getting rid of these vapes in schools.”

OTHS discipline differs based on the substance involved, Howe said. For nicotine vapes, he said the first offense results in “one day in school suspension,” with consequences increasing for a second or third offense. THC-based vapes bring more severe penalties and “could include a 10-day suspension in school or expulsion.”

“Parents and students need to understand the seriousness of bringing vapes on campus," he said to the school board.

Howe provided counts of student possession cases by term. In fall 2025, the school recorded 23 students in possession of nicotine vapes and 10 in possession of THC vapes. In spring 2025, there were 12 nicotine cases and eight THC cases. In fall 2024, there were 16 nicotine cases and nine THC cases.

“We know it is happening in bathrooms,” Howe said, adding that the school’s “security team does a great job with it.”

To deter vaping, Howe said OTHS is using “informational campaigns,” including efforts to “show dangers,” “posters in hallways,” reporting at board meetings, and increased monitoring. He said the school attempts to supervise "10-12 bathrooms on our campus," which is not easy.

Nationally, the prevalence of high school e-cigarette use has declined in recent years, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data included in the presentation materials.

“As of 2024, approximately 1.21 million (7.8%) U.S. high school students reported current e-cigarette use,” the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) data stated, down from 14.1% in 2022. The same materials said that “in 2024, 7.8% of high school students currently vaped, down from 10.0% in 2023 and 14.1% in 2022.”

The CDC figures also noted that “daily nicotine vaping among youth increased from 15% to nearly 29% between 2020 and 2024,” and that 87.6% of users preferred flavored products, “primarily disposables.”

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