District proposes barring oral pouches in student handbooks

What happened

Duxbury proposes adding possession of any oral pouch—including caffeine, nicotine, tobacco, or other ingredients—to its student code of conduct. If approved, the amendment would be added immediately to district student handbooks; DHS administrators cite increased use and potential effects including rapid heart rate, nausea, and anxiety.

Why it matters to families

The proposal would make the rule apply to caffeine pouches as well as tobacco and nicotine products, which the high school says can look alike and be difficult for staff to distinguish. It is a proposed conduct-policy change, not yet a completed decision.

The evidence

The October 7, 2026 School Committee packet includes a DHS principal's recommended amendment to Code of Conduct Group C, Rule 10, adding possession of oral pouches used to ingest nicotine, tobacco, caffeine, or any other ingredient. The memo cites increased student use of caffeine pouches and the listed health concerns, and says handbook changes and family notifications would follow if approved (document 96874, pp. 9–10).

The source