The Slippery Rock Area School District made the right decision by joining five other county school districts in a federal lawsuit against vaping and tobacco companies. The suit — filed this week in Pittsburgh by district solicitor Thomas King — argues the companies are marketing their products to school-age children.

Other local school districts that have joined the suit — which has been transferred to federal court in California — include Butler Area, South Butler County, Karns City Area, Mars Area and Moniteau.

The suit specifically targets JUUL Labs Inc. and Altria, a conglomerate that owns tobacco companies Nu Mark LLC and Philip Morris USA, alleging these companies have used marketing campaigns to target children.

Tobacco or vaping companies have long drawn fire for the way they market their products, but there are valid arguments to be made for both sides regarding the advertising of dangerous products to consenting adults.

But trying to gain interest in these products from children is unacceptable and crosses the line.

The school districts’ decisions to join the suit are informed by disturbing statistics. According to the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey, about 3.6 million U.S. middle and high school students were found to use electronic cigarettes.

A 2016 study found that four out of five — or 20.5 million — middle and high school students were exposed to e-cigarette advertising. Earlier this year, King told the Eagle that about 50 percent of local students have used vaping products by the time they reach 12th grade, and that some elementary school students even use the products. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is addictive and can harm brain development. In Slippery Rock’s complaint, the district alleges that employees have witnessed numerous ways in which vaping and tobacco products have negatively affected students’ development and use of class time. It has also increased the amount of time spent addressing disciplinary issues and the amount of time required for school counselors to spend with addicted students.

Most youths are at some point confronted by peer pressure regarding alcohol, tobacco and drugs, and it’s often up to their parents and teachers to explain to them the importance of their choices. When companies selling tobacco or vaping products target young people, they often undo the work put in to prevent children from turning to dangerous substances.

Slippery Rock and the other five county school districts involved in these suits should be commended.

— NCD