Every October, schools nationwide participate in Red Ribbon Week to promote drug-free lifestyles among students. This year, the Cobb County School District and school resource officers are working together to emphasize that avoiding drugs is a lifelong commitment that starts with open communication at home.
School Resource Officer Edwin Ainsworth noted that vaping has become one of the most visible and concerning trends among students. He explained that a distinct fruity scent often signals when students have been vaping, and he can also detect the smell of THC. Officer Ainsworth estimated, “as many as eight in ten high school students have tried vaping at least once.”
“These kids like them because they’re easy. They can pull them out and smoke them quickly. Some of them are odorless, some don’t even have smoke coming out of them, and kids can hide them,” he said.
He further described the health risks associated with vaping: “It can cause them to have a hole in their lung, and if they get really addicted, their attitude changes. They start being a little more defensive when you talk to them,” Ainsworth added, “If your lung capacity gets full with popcorn lung, you could end up on a ventilator.”
Cobb School Resource Officers advise parents to take an active role in prevention efforts. They recommend watching for changes in social groups or mood, staying involved by knowing teachers and friends, setting clear rules about substance use, discussing the impact of drugs on decision-making and goals, starting conversations early—even in elementary school—and modeling healthy behaviors themselves. Regular checks of bedrooms and backpacks are also suggested as proactive measures.
Red Ribbon Week is highlighted as an opportunity for families to begin or continue these important discussions at home. The message from the district underscores that prevention relies on honest conversations and supportive environments: “Together, we can help every Cobb student stay drug-free for life.”
