COLUMBIANA, Ohio - While vaping among teens has declined somewhat, the evidence of how addictive nicotine products can be has only grown.

The Columbiana School District is addressing this issue by viewing instances of students vaping in school as opportunities for education instead of merely disciplining them.

"Kids are vaping today, and we're no different than any other district. Kids are not supposed to bring [vapes] here, and like kids do, they make mistakes," Superintendent, Donald Mook said. 

For the past few years the district has worked with Family Recovery Center in Lisbon to offer a vaping intervention program.

Instead of facing suspension, students meet with counselors and participate in sessions that focus on the dangers of vaping.

"We'll go over the chemicals that are found in a vape. Some health risks that are associated with ingesting these chemicals. How much of their money that they're investing into this habit, and gaging where their personal dependence is," Vaping Education Specialist of Family Recovery Center, Nicole Vernorsky said.

A recent study from USC indicates that, while overall vaping trends are declining, those who do vape are using the products daily. This suggests the addictive nature of the habit.

Vernorsky shared how the program has impacted students over the last few years. 

"With last school year's numbers, we have intervened with 74 students in Columbiana County, and about 90% of students reported to have either planned on quitting or considered quitting as a result of the intervention," Vernorsky said.

School officials the program is about giving students a second chance while keeping them connected to school and making healthier choices.

"Because we know that in the vape today, there's so many chemicals that are involved that it's going to health impair them, and it's highly addictive, even more so than tobacco," Mook said.