ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES

Transcription

1 Purpose for the Technical Assistance Paper on Electronic Cigarettes in collaboration with Miami Dade Schools Police, Student Services, and the School Board Attorney s Office have developed a technical assistance paper (TAP) to address the many concerns that have been raised by administrators, parents/guardians, and law enforcement regarding electronic cigarettes. Furthermore, this TAP will serve as a guide to school site administrators on how to implement the corrective actions in the current Code of Student Conduct as it relates to electronic cigarettes, until the Code of Student Conduct is revised to include electronic cigarettes. Overview Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that simulate traditional cigarettes but release a vapor instead of smoke. Since their original release, the market has grown substantially and many liquid solutions, referred to as e-liquid or e-juice have been developed which focus on flavoring, some of which do not contain nicotine. Other s have also been developed that simulate other smoking implements like cigars and pipes. The liquids are often sold in bottles or in pre-filled disposable cartridges but, like the devices, are not regulated. 1 P age

2 Questions & Answers What do electronic cigarettes look like? Below are just some examples of electronic cigarettes. The electronic cigarettes can vary in shape, style, size, material, and color. There may be models of electronic cigarettes that are not depicted in this technical assistance paper. 2 P age

3 What is E-juice or E-liquid? E-Juice, also known as smoke juice, E-liquid, etc. E- Liquid is the fluid that fuels the Electronic Cigarette. It is what provides the nicotine solution and the flavoring to your Electronic Cigarette. It is the vapor in which you exhale that mimics the traditional tobacco smoke. Is there nicotine in E-Liquid? There is an array of different flavors, some contain nicotine and some are nicotine free. What are the parts to an electronic cigarette? Tanks, atomizers, accessories, AC chargers, batteries, cartridges, cartomizers, drip tips, rebuildables and supplies, PCC s, tanks & clearomizers, and USB chargers. POSSESSION AND/OR USE OF AN ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE OR ITS PARTS What corrective action from the current Code of Student Conduct (COSC), can a school site administrator take if a student is found in possession and/or use of an electronic cigarette or any of its parts while on school grounds, a school bus, or at a school sponsored event? A student is in possession and/or use of any of the following s NOT CONTAINING any type of tobacco while on school grounds, a school bus, or a school sponsored event: part(s) of an electronic cigarette NOT CONTAINING any tobacco an electronic cigarette in its original sealed packaging NOT CONTAINING any tobacco corrective actions outlined in the current Code of Student Conduct (COSC) for Level I Disruptive Behaviors. Level I Disruptive Behavior Possession of items or materials that are inappropriate for an educational setting an electronic cigarette NOT CONTAINING any tobacco e-juice or e-liquid NOT CONTAINING any tobacco 3 P age

4 A student is in possession and/or use of any of the following s CONTAINING any type of tobacco while on school grounds, a school bus, or a school sponsored event: part(s) of an electronic cigarette CONTAINING any tobacco an electronic cigarette CONTAINING any tobacco corrective actions outlined in the current Code of Student Conduct (COSC) for Level II Seriously Disruptive Behaviors. Level II Seriously Disruptive Behaviors Possession and/or use of tobacco s e-juice or e-liquid CONTAINING any tobacco A student is in possession and/or use of any of the following s CONTAINING any type of illegal, controlled substance, or mood altering substance while on school grounds, a school bus, or a school sponsored event: part(s) of an electronic cigarette CONTAINING any type of illegal, controlled substance, or mood altering substance an electronic cigarette an electronic cigarette CONTAINING any type of illegal, controlled substance, or mood altering substance an electronic cigarette e-juice or e-liquid CONTAINING any type of illegal, controlled substance, or mood altering substance an electronic cigarette corrective actions outlined in the current Code of Student Conduct (COSC) for Level III Offensive/Harmful Behaviors. Level III Offensive/Harmful Behaviors Possession or use of alcohol, unauthorized over-thecounter medications, drug paraphernalia, controlled substances and/or anything that alters mood or is used for mood altering 4 P age

5 A student is under the influence of a mood altering substance inhaled from an electronic cigarette while on school grounds, a school bus, or at a school sponsored event corrective actions outlined in the current Code of Student Conduct (COSC) for Level III Offensive/Harmful Behaviors. Level III Offensive/Harmful Behaviors Possession or use of alcohol, unauthorized over-thecounter medications, drug paraphernalia, controlled substances and/or anything that alters mood or is used for mood altering What corrective action from the current Code of Student Conduct, can a school site administrator take if he/she suspects that a student used an electronic cigarette containing a form of a synthetic illegal substance? The mere possession or use of an electronic cigarette does not warrant notifying school police, since the possession or use of a tobacco is a Level II behavior in the Code of Student Conduct if it contains tobacco. If the electronic cigarette contains NO tobacco it is a Level I behavior of the Code of Student Conduct. However, if the administrator has reasonable suspicion that the student may be under the influence of an illegal substance and/or anything that alters mood based on observable behaviors or has become ill as a result of using an electronic cigarette, he/she should contact school police to conduct an investigation. If school police determines through laboratory testing, that the student was in possession and/or used a synthetic illegal or mood altering substance, then the school can take the corrective actions from the current Code of Student Conduct for possession and/or use of an illegal substance or mood altering substance which is a Level III Offensive/Harmful Behavior. How can a school site administrator tell if the contents of an electronic cigarette, part or parts of an electronic cigarette, or e-juice/e-liquid found in the possession of a student or used by a student contains no tobacco, a tobacco or an illegal substance? It should be noted, that the e-juice, e-liquid, or the waxy like substance found in containers or in the electronic cigarettes are odorless and many times colorless. Only through laboratory testing, can it be determined whether or not the contents of the electronic cigarette are non-tobacco, tobacco, or an illegal substance. 5 P age

6 INTENT TO SALE AND/OR DISTRIBUTE OR SALE AND/OR DISTRIBUTION OF AN ELECTRONIC CIGARETTE OR ITS PARTS A student has the intent to sale and/or distribute or sale and/or distribution any of the following s NOT CONTAINING any type of tobacco while on school grounds, a school bus, or a school sponsored event: part(s) of an electronic cigarette NOT CONTAINING any tobacco an electronic cigarette in its original sealed packaging NOT CONTAINING any tobacco an electronic cigarette NOT CONTAINING any tobacco e-juice or e-liquid NOT CONTAINING any tobacco A student has the intent to sale and/or distribute or sale and/or distribution any of the following s CONTAINING any type of tobacco while on school grounds, a school bus, or a school sponsored event: part(s) of an electronic cigarette CONTAINING any tobacco an electronic cigarette CONTAINING any tobacco e-juice or e-liquid CONTAINING any tobacco corrective actions outlined in the l current Code of Student Conduct (COSC) for Level II Seriously Disruptive Behaviors. Level II Seriously Disruptive Behaviors Distribution of items or materials that are inappropriate for an educational setting Prohibited sales on school grounds (other than controlled substances) corrective actions outlined in the l current Code of Student Conduct (COSC) for Level II Seriously Disruptive Behaviors. Level II Seriously Disruptive Behaviors Distribution of items or materials that are inappropriate for an educational setting Prohibited sales on school grounds (other than controlled substances) 6 P age

7 A student has the intent to sale and/or distribute or sale and/or distribution any of the following s CONTAINING any type of illegal, controlled substance, or mood altering substance while on school grounds, a school bus, or a school sponsored event: part(s) of an electronic cigarette CONTAINING any type of illegal, controlled substance, or mood altering substance an electronic cigarette an electronic cigarette CONTAINING any type of illegal, controlled substance, or mood altering substance an electronic cigarette e-juice or e-liquid CONTAINING any type of illegal, controlled substance, or mood altering substance an electronic cigarette corrective actions outlined in the l current Code of Student Conduct (COSC) for Level IV Dangerous or Violent Behaviors. Level IV Dangerous or Violent Behaviors Intent to sell and/or distribute alcohol, unauthorized over-the-counter medications, drug paraphernalia, controlled substances and/or anything that alters mood or is used for mood altering Sale and/or distribution of alcohol, unauthorized overthe-counter medications, drug paraphernalia, controlled substances and/or anything that alters mood or is used for mood altering (See Special Notes #1 ) 7 P age

8 GLOSSARY TERM Analog Atomizer (aka atty) Battery (aka Batt) Blanks DEFINTION A tobacco cigarette. The part that heats up the e-liquid and turns it into vapor. Batteries used to run a personal vaporizer (PV). Cartridges with dry filler material to be filled with e-liquid by the user. Also a cartridge with the filler material removed to be used as just a mouthpiece when dripping liquid. Cartomizer A type of cartridge that combines the cartridge and atomizer in one unit. Cartridge (aka Cart) The part that makes up the mouthpiece for the electronic cigarette and contains a reservoir with filler material to hold the e-liquid. Chest/Lung Hit It is the feeling in your chest when vapor is filling it up (varies based on liquid content). Cleaning Cycle When the battery turns itself to a constant on for a period of seconds to burn the residue off the atomizer (removing cartridge during this process prevents the polyfil from melting onto the atomizer). Coil Core Cut off Dipping DIY Dripping ECA ECF E-cig E-liquid Electronic Cigarette FDA The part inside the atomizer that heats up. A cartridge which has no e-liquid/juice in it. It is dry and can be filled with the juice of your choice. It is the battery shutdown to protect atomizer from overheating. The practice of dipping an exposed atomizer coil into e-liquid. Do-It-Yourself The practice of dripping e-liquid directly onto the atomizer coil. Electronic Cigarette Association E-cigarette-forum.com is the most popular and widely populated forum about electronic cigarettes An electronic cigarette or personal vaporizer (PV) The liquid used in an electronic cigarette to produce the vapor. (aka nic liquid, juice, e-juice, niquid, nic juice, etc...) Electronic cigarettes are battery-operated devices that simulate traditional cigarettes but release a vapor instead of smoke. It is also known as E-cig & Personal Vaporizer (PV). Food and Drug Administration 8 P age

9 TERM DEFINTION Kensington It is the common model of the Portable Power Pack used with a USB passthrough for portable long term vaping. Li-ion They are lithium ion batteries used in personal vaporizers (PVs). Manual Switch It is a switch operated by the user to turn the battery power on/off. MC Menthol Crystals which are used to make some e-liquids. MG Milligram (in this case refers to the amount of nicotine per milliliter of e- liquid.) ML Milliliter is a measure of e-liquid/juice. Mod It is the modification or moderator depending on context. Modder One who modifies personal vaporizers (PVs). Nic Nicotine NRT Nicotine Replacement Therapy Passthrough (PT) A device that is used in place of a battery that connects to a USB outlet to draw power. PCC PEG PG Polyfil Personal Vaporizer (PV) RTV RY4 RYO Snus Throat Hit (TH) Topping off USB Passthrough Vaper Vaping Vapor VF VG Personal Charging Case Polyethylene glycol Propylene glycol It is the material that fills the cartridge (aka stuffing/batting/fiber/wool). An electronic cigarette/cigar/pipe/box/mod/stick which vaporizes e-liquid. RightToVape.org It is a very popular flavor which is often described as a mix of caramel and vanilla with a smokey flavor to it (aka riskee juice). Roll your own They are nicotine tabs used as nicotine replacement. It is the feeling in your throat caused by vapor being inhaled (varies with nicotine level and liquid content/flavor). Is putting more e-liquid in the cartridge that you are using. It is an empty battery which has a wire and a USB plug and runs off your computer's power or a portable power pack (aka PT). One that engages in vaping. The act of using an electronic cigarette. The smoke like emmision (steam) produced by using an electronic cigarette. Vapersforum.com Glycerine (vegetable glycerine) 9 P age