While it began as a club to discuss the consequences of alcohol and marijuana use, the high school Peer Leaders Club has reshaped its focus in recent years to incorporate vaping into its curriculum. The vaping epidemic has become a growing issue in thousands of American high schools.

This year alone, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports there has been 1,299 cases and 28 deaths in the US from vaping-related illnesses. With the large population of young vapers in America, it is expected that these numbers will rise in the coming years.

Peer Leaders advisor Kelly Stokoe acknowledges that vaping will become more of a focus for the club this year.

“The focus of this club has always been about making responsible decisions. With vaping becoming a concern with many young people, Peer Leaders will be working with experts to see how we can best educate the younger generation of students,” Stokoe said.

Last year, the club visited the towns elementary schools as well as the middle school to speak with younger students about the importance of good decision making. The club aims to help students recognize what is important at a young age in hopes that they will make healthy decisions later on. Senior Matthew Arena was recently named co-president of the club and believes older students are able to make more of a connection with younger students on these topics.

“I think when a group of high schoolers talk with elementary school and middle school aged kids, there is a level of connection that isn’t always made between teachers and students. The kids look up to us, and for that reason they take what we teach them very seriously and our hope is that the lessons we teach them at a young age stick with them for a long time,” Arena said.

Although vaping has become a large focus of the club, the group also focuses on things such as safe usage of social media, dealing with peer pressure, and building good self images. This year, the club looks to expand its horizons even more after adding 20 new members for the school year.

“This year the club will be talking to the students in all of the other schools in the district about healthy relationships, self advocacy, and positive decision making,” Stokoe said.

Peer Leaders play an important role in teaching students how to make healthy decisions, and they try to be a role model for the rest of the student body.

“In my opinion, [being a Peer Leader] means that you are making a choice to be a positive role model for the students in the Farmington Public Schools. Students who are involved in this club are ones that feel they can make a difference,” Stokoe said.