by Daniela Acosta and Rony Garcia

At Patterson High School, a concerning trend has developed for the past few years. Students arrive at school not just to attend classes, but to smoke or vape. Whether it’s e-cigarettes or marijuana, many students are using school grounds as a place to indulge in these unhealthy habits before the school day begins or during breaks. But what’s leading to this behavior and why do some students come to school and smoke? Understanding the reasons behind this pattern is necessary to addressing the issue and starting to create a healthier school environment. 

Mr. Rivas, a hall monitor at Patterson High School, says that smoking becomes addictive and that is why many students hide from their parents and do it at school. Sometimes this also extends to alcohol, as he once caught five students drinking in the bathroom. Mr. Simmons (AKA “Mr. Soul”), another hall monitor at Patterson, said students smoke in the bathroom because they are hiding from the teachers and the staff because they’re not allowed to smoke in school.

Ms. Howard said they smoke in the bathroom because they aren’t able to smoke in their house and they think they are able to smoke in school because school and home are two different things and that is why they are not respectful to their environment.

One of the most significant factors influencing why some Patterson students smoke is peer pressure. One student who agreed to speak on condition of anonymity said “I smoke whenever my friends invite me to but I don’t do it on a regular basis.” Adolescence is a time when many young people are highly influenced by their peers and social group. 

In many cases, students feel compelled to smoke to fit in or to appear “cool.” Peer groups, especially those who already engage in smoking, can normalize this behavior and create an environment where students feel that smoking is an expected or even desirable activity. 

Another reason that students smoke is because of stress and escaping their problems. High school can be an extremely stressful time for students, balancing academics, responsibilities. 

One student claimed she smokes because she feels stressed due to academics, sports, family expectations, and other pressures.  “I have a lot of family issues and I deal with trying to get my grades up so all of those things on top of each other stress me out”, she explained. 

Another factor contributing to the prevalence of smoking at Patterson High school is the easy access to vapes and other smoking materials. The increasing availability of vaping products in stores and online markets and from friends and family means that many students have a ready supply that they can use before, during and after school hours. 

In addition to causing health issues, teen smoking can also lead to serious consequences at home or even with the police. In the Baltimore City Public Schools Code of Conduct there are five different levels of interventions and disciplinary responses that can be applied when students violate the rules against using, possessing, or distributing tobacco products, drugs, or other controlled substances. Depending on the severity of the violation, these consequences can range from teacher interventions like contacting parents all the way up to extended suspension, expulsion and referral responses where students are removed from school and placed “in an alternative environment that provides additional structure to address the behavior.” In some cases, the police might even get involved, potentially leading to arrest and criminal charges.

As a school, we need to educate students more on the effects of smoking during school and the consequences that come with it, as well as the resources available to help students who may be struggling with addiction or other problems. Educating students on this issue could help prevent more problems in the future.