As students return to school, it’s important that teachers and administrators know how to respond if they catch students using nicotine products.
It’s best to respond with support, not punishment. Students who violate tobacco policies should be approached in a supportive way that focuses on encouraging them to quit. Suspending students can cause even more problems at school and beyond, leading to lower test scores and graduation rates, among other poor outcomes. Racial bias can also be a factor in school suspensions, sometimes laying a path toward incarceration.