The City of Santa Clarita’s 2020 Parent Resource Symposium titled “Teen Vaping: The Story of Toxic Smoke” took place virtually on Sept. 23 and revealed the urgency for prevention among teens.

The event kicked off with opening remarks from Mayor Cameron Smyth, stating his own concerns and priority of the safety of Santa Clarita youth, as well as the event’s goal. 

“The main purpose of this event is to remind you, parents, of the dangers of drugs and to provide you with the tools to help recognize the signs of drug us\e,” said Smyth.

The mayor then stated that although many teenagers are not socializing as frequently due to the COVID-19 pandemic and social distancing, the issue of drug use remains: “Being at home during this time with distance learning does not mean that teenagers are still not exposed to temptation and peer pressure,” he said.

The event was moderated by Captain Justin Diaz from the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station, who added on to Symth’s comment, saying, “I think it is safe to say that middle and high school students are very impressionable and when you add the COVID-19 pandemic, it is easy to see how peer pressure and stress can lead to harmful decisions.”

Intervention Specialist Travis Sababin from the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department then demonstrated how a parent can search a room for potential drugs and what to look for. Discussing the physical effects of vaping, Dr. Darrin Privett of Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital addressed the viewers. He also offered teen vaping statistics, stating that students who reported vaping nicotine in the past month rose to 28 percent for high schoolers and 11 percent for middle schoolers in 2019. 

Next, Detective Nashla Barakat, along with Travis Sababin spoke on current drug trends among juveniles, stating it is “a lot more prevalent.” William S. Hart High School Assistant Principal Elizabeth Wilson discussed student exposure to vaping products, accompanied with a slide show featuring what many different vapes can look like and where they can be hidden on a person.  

The panel then opened up to viewer questions, including how underage individuals gain access to these products, law enforcement involvement in confiscation at schools, where one can get drug testing kits and how to talk to teens about drug abuse. 

The symposium can still be viewed on the City’s Facebook page. To learn more about drug prevention among teens click here.  

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