THC Vapes Are a Top Substance Use Issue in Middle and High Schools: What Parents Need to Know
SouthLight Shares the Biggest Trend and 6 Tips for Parents
SouthLight’s Prevention Services Team works directly with students across Wake County and sees substance use trends as they emerge. After working with more than 560 middle and high school students during the 2025-26 school year, the team identified one substance that stands out and shares six practical tips to help parents stay informed, involved, and connected with their children.
In partnership with the Wake County School System, SouthLight runs the ACE-1 Program (Alternative Counseling Education), a consequential and educational class offered to middle and high school students following a first violation of the district’s L3-1 substance use policy. During the 2025-26 school year, SouthLight’s Prevention Services Team led 566 students through the program, including 32 students who were just 12 years old. When asked about the most common substance use trend they observed, all three team members immediately gave the same answer.
THC Vapes Stand Out as One of the Most Common Substances Found in Schools
Vaping continues to be a concerning behavior for teens and vapes containing THC (the addictive compound in cannabis plants that causes the high) has become more prevalent. The hemp-derived cartridges are unregulated because of their slightly lower level of THC, and tend to be easily accessible from gas stations, friends, older students, and dealers at school. (Marijuana-derived TCH vapes are illegal.)
If someone is caught vaping, the school resource officer tests the device for THC. State laws prohibit possession and use of any vaping devices, tobacco products, and cannabis-derived substances on school grounds.
Examples of a Delta 8 THC vape cartridges
Other Substance Use Trends Among Students
While THC Vapes are the most common reason students ended up in the ACE-1 program, SouthLight’s team has also worked with students who were suspended for other marijuana products, alcohol (often in water bottles), THC Lean Syrup, and even LSD.
6 Practical Ways Parents Can Help Prevent Teen Substance Use
Keeping up can be overwhelming. Fads spread much quicker than they used to as viral ideas instantly reach global audiences and quickly become trends and physical products.
The SouthLight Prevention Services Team shares that the ACE-1 program gives students a place to talk about what’s going on and “a lot of honesty comes out in class.” From this, they offer observations to help parents keep up and keep in touch.
- Are you monitoring their internet and social use? While constant surveillance is not feasible and doesn’t build trust with your teen, having frequent conversations and staying engaged in your teen’s online world is important. What are they seeing in their feeds? What are they posting? What are the slang words and emojis related to substance use?
- How many phones does your child have? One of the most surprising findings in the ACE-1 program was the number of students who have multiple phones. They may have one you know about and monitor, and another “secret” phone.
- Pay attention to the law. Currently, hemp-derived THC is a “Wild West” product, unregulated with no statewide minimum age for purchase. But more restrictive bills are in the works, like NC Senate Bill 59 (that proposes prohibiting the sale or possession of hemp-derived consumable products and kratom products to individuals under the age of 21). Track its progress here.
- How old are your child’s friends? Many of the students in the ACE-1 program have “friends” who are older than they are, which could be a sign of them possibly being involved with substance use. Friendships that don’t add up are worth looking into.
- Potency – Are you comparing it to when you were a student? SouthLight’s Prevention Educators note they often hear things from parents like, “I used marijuana when I was younger, and it didn’t hurt me.” But today, THC Vapes and joints are significantly more potent (30% THC compared to 4-6% in the 90s, with some concentrates boasting 90% to 95% THC—in the form of waxes, edibles, and more). Source: https://www.apa.org/monitor/2025/06/marijuana-potency-policy-risk
- Life changes and developmental differences: A common thread the SouthLight team sees in its program are students who are experiencing some kind of tumult in their lives or have been uprooted in some way (moved to a new town, changed schools, etc.). Ninth graders in particular fall under this category as they’re trying to fit in at high school. Another is students who may be on the neurodivergent spectrum, such as those with ADHD.
Substance use trends are ever evolving, but one thing remains constant: parents play a critical role in prevention.
Staying informed, maintaining open and non-judgmental conversations, and paying attention to changes in friendships, behavior, and online activity can help parents identify concerns early.
Strong connections, consistent communication, and trusted adult support remain some of the most effective tools for helping students make healthy choices.
By Susan Gilbert, SouthLight Contributor
Interested in Learning More?
If you’re a parent or guardian of a middle or high schooler in Wake County, NC, and would like to learn more about teen nicotine, marijuana, and THC use, contact PreventionServices@SouthLight.org. Ask about parent education workshops that are held throughout the year.
