SHORT REPORT
Figure from article: School administrator...
 
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION Schools have become central to addressing the prevention, detection, and cessation of youth’s use of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS). This study surveys and interviews school administrators in Montana to identify effective prevention, discipline, and cessation strategies in schools. METHODS A mixed-methods study was conducted from March through September 2025, including an online survey with 42 responses from school administrators and 11 follow-up interviews. All Montana school districts (n=400) were invited to participate in the survey, and interview participants were recruited from survey respondents. Survey questions ranged from perceptions of ENDS use to the perception and effectiveness of prevention, discipline, and cessation strategies. Interviews expanded on key survey findings and captured insights into school-level experiences related to ENDS use, prevention, discipline, and cessation strategies. RESULTS Of the 400 school districts sent the survey, a response rate of 10.5% (n=42) was achieved. Just over half (61%, n=25) observed student ENDS use on school grounds during the 2024–2025 school year. Certain measures, like implementing student education sessions (90%, n=36) and hallway/bathroom patrols to prevent use and notifying parents for a first offense (95%, n=38) were seen as moderately or very effective. Cessation efforts were more varied, and respondents expressed a desire for more options. The least expensive measures, such as educational sessions, installing tobacco-free signs, and putting up educational posters, were the most commonly implemented measures. In the end, interviews emphasized the need for working collaboratively with peers, parents, and school resource officers to increase prevention, cessation, and disciplinary effectiveness. CONCLUSIONS Prevention, cessation, and disciplinary strategies to reduce ENDS use at schools vary greatly across Montana. However, respondents consistently expressed a desire for more disciplinary options and cessation resources, and noted that involving peers, parents, and school resource officers in prevention, cessation, and disciplinary strategies increased perceived effectiveness.
CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
The authors have each completed and submitted an ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. The authors declare that they have no competing interests, financial or otherwise, related to the current work. S. Fuller, S. Powell and T. Spence report that since the initial planning of the work they had support under a contract with Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program (MTUPP) and Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services (MTDPHHS). MTUPP representatives also contributed to study development, reviewed findings and participated in manuscript preparation and approval as co-authors. N. Aune and L. Richidt report that in the past 36 months they have made a cooperative agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. N. Aune also reports that in the past 36 months she has been a member of North American Quitline Consortium Board of Directors.
FUNDING
There was no source of funding for this research.
ETHICAL APPROVAL AND INFORMED CONSENT
The project was reviewed by the Western IRB (WIRB-Copernicus Group) and found to be exempt from ethical approval. Participants provided informed consent.
DATA AVAILABILITY
The data supporting this research is available from the author(s) on reasonable request.
AUTHORS' CONTRIBUTIONS
SP: study design, data analysis, manuscript writing, and revisions. SF: study design, data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing, and revisions. TS: data collection, data analysis, manuscript writing, and revisions. LR, NA: study conception, design, and manuscript revisions. All authors read and approved the final version of the manuscript.
PROVENANCE AND PEER REVIEW
Not commissioned; externally peer reviewed.
REFERENCES (11)
1.
E-cigarette use among youth. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. October 17, 2024. Accessed June 17, 2026. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/e-.... html
 
2.
Montana Department of Public Health and Human Services. Montana youth e-cigarette use is among the highest in the nation: facts and statistics on teen ecigarette use; Updated July 19, 2024. Accessed June 17, 2026. https://www.dphhs.mt.gov/asset...
 
3.
Montana Office of Public Instruction. 2023 youth risk behavior survey results: Montana High School survey trend analysis report; 2023. Accessed June 17, 2026. https://opi.mt.gov/Portals/182...
 
4.
Liu J, Roberts J, Reynolds MJ, et al. Barriers and facilitators to address vaping in Massachusetts schools: a mixed-methods study of school-based stakeholders. Transl Behav Med. 2023;13(8):589–600. doi:10.1093/tbm/ibad012
 
5.
Mylocopos G, Wennberg E, Reiter A, et al. Interventions for preventing e-cigarette use among children and youth: a systematic review. Am J Prev Med. 2024;66(2):351–370. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2023.09.028
 
6.
Dai H. Youth observation of e-cigarette use in or around school, 2019. Am J Prev Med. 2021;60(2):241–249. doi:10.1016/j.amepre.2020.07.022
 
7.
Jackson A, Kong G, Wu R, et al. E-cigarette devices used on school grounds. Addict Behav. 2020;110:106516. doi:10.1016/j.addbeh.2020.106516
 
8.
Weser VU, Hieftje K, Shaker J, et al. School staff experiences with vaping disciplinary procedures in Connecticut schools: a qualitative study of middle school staff. Nicotine Tob Res. 2026;28(5):809–816. doi:10.1093/ntr/ntaf229
 
9.
Sharma S, Crotty Alexander L, Meister M, et al. A review of popular vaping misconceptions: redefining ENDS safety and usage risks. Inhal Toxicol. 2025;37(9-10):465–479. doi:10.1080/08958378.2025.2571918
 
10.
Alsahli FA, Alruwais NM, Alsultan LS, et al. Interventions for prevention of tobacco smoking in school-aged children and adolescents: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Cureus. 2025;17(1):e77008. doi:10.7759/cureus.77008
 
11.
Gentzke AS, Wang TW, Cornelius M, et al. Tobacco product use and associated factors among middle and high school students—National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2021. MMWR Surveill Summ. 2022;71(5):1–29. doi:10.15585/mmwr.ss7105a1
 
eISSN:2459-3087
Journals System - logo
Scroll to top