With summer approaching, school and health officials are warning parents about a growing danger: unregulated cannabis and vape products potentially laced with fentanyl getting into the hands of teenagers.

Some upstate school districts sounded the alarm recently warning of the increased dangers of minors using vape products because of a risk of fentanyl exposure.

Tompkins County Sheriff Derek Osborne confirmed that a student this year used a vape with an illicit substance, resulting in a medical emergency. The student inhaled once and collapsed in a school hallway. The sheriff’s office said, however, they haven’t confirmd the substance in the vape.

The New York State Health Department said it has not confirmed any reports of fentanyl found in vapes, but it also doesn’t have a tracking system for teen cannabis use.

But, a 2023 survey by the CDC shows 3.9% of teens in upstate New York vape daily, with 5.6% of those girls and 2% are boys.

The survey jumps to 12% of high school students who use marijuana; 12.9% of those are girls, boys 10%. Twenty-two percent have tried marijuana.

You must be 21 to buy a vape or buy cannabis in New York.

As school winds down, police and health officials say the risk for teens using unregulated vapes and cannabis products ramps up.

“We do have kids getting vape pens from local smoke shops as well as we know they’re buying them online,” said Baldwinsville Police School Resource Officer Jered Zepetello. “The issue with that is you don’t know exactly what’s in them … any smoke shop that’s going to sell to an obviously minor child or where you can buy it online is somewhat unregulated.”

Many schools have not seen fentanyl-laced vapes on campus, but police and school officials said the danger is there. That’s why school nurses say preparation is key.

“Hope is not a plan. But a plan of offering training to unlicensed staff districtwide, and obtaining the Narcan through the opioid overdose program is our plan, to save students, staff and visitors’ lives,” says Katie Bizzoni, a nurse practitioner with the Baldwinsville district. 

Parents are being urged to inspect what their kids bring home — especially backpacks, clothes and even common household items that can hide the vapes such as cans.

“The vape pens look a lot like a regular pen at times, or a USB device,” says Zepetello. “Unless you really know what you’re looking for, it’s hard to find it.”

Health officials said many teens believe vaping and cannabis are safe because they’re legal for adults.

“I think a lot of adolescents perceive vaping as a low-risk behavior,” said Amber Munlyn, who is with Tompkins County Whole Health. “The availability of appealing flavors like fruit and candy further contributes to this risk perception.”

Munlyn promotes programs like Drop the Vape, offering anonymous help statewide for teens looking to quit by texting 88709.

“Don’t ever think ‘not my kid.’ The kids that we find with these range in all different demographics,” said Zepetello.

Baldwinsville schools have not had an instance of fentanyl-laced vapes, but they are prepared and continue to educate of the dangers of vaping and cannabis use by children.

“Fentanyl has been a disaster for our communities, and we take such complaints very seriously,” Osborne said.

If you suspect your teen is vaping or using cannabis, experts recommend having an honest conversation and keeping naloxone on hand.