As e-cigarette usage among teens continues to climb, school administrators are working to find solutions to combat the problem. It’s estimated by the US Food and Drug Administration that more than 20% of high schoolers now use e-cigarettes. Health problems and addictions among teens related to vaping are rising across the country. While legislation to ban flavored e-cigarettes, a product that has been linked to severe lung disease, is underway, it might be years before the ban can take full effect.
Vape Detectors In Schools
The newest tools to assist schools in stopping e-cigarette use are vape detectors, such as Flysense and the HALO IoT Smart Sensor. These devices are similar to a smoke detector, except instead of sensing smoke, they register the chemical signature of vaping aerosol. When the system is activated, school officials are immediately notified through email, text, or an app. Many of these detectors are also equipped with noise detectors that can also notify officials should bullying or fighting occur. Vape detectors reduce e-cigarette use in the following ways:
Awareness
The first step in solving any problem is knowing why, when, and where it’s happening. Vape detectors in schools can pinpoint the times and places students use their e-cigarettes. With this information, it’s that much easier to formulate a plan that’s both appropriate and effective. These plans include such measures as increased vigilance, disciplinary actions, educational programs, and community support. The goal is to reduce the overall number of vaping incidents on school grounds. The more a student is exposed to peers vaping, the more likely they are to start. Prevention is far easier than reversing an addiction.
Deterrence
Installing vape detectors sends a clear message that vaping will not be tolerated. For the student, it makes it more difficult to find places to use their e-cigarettes. If the student is a casual user, this might be enough to keep them from vaping during school. As stated before, the less vaping that occurs on school grounds, the less likely students who haven’t started the habit are to pick it up.
For those students who tend to push limits and test administrators, this creates a situation where they must bend or break several rules to be able to vape. If they are willing to go that far, then it proves that there are other underlying factors in play that need to be addressed, such as an addiction.
Education
Awareness of when students are using e-cigarettes and deterrence of their use are only the first steps in combating the problem. Most teens believe that vaping is relatively safe and therefore okay, if not fun, to use. Both the CDC and FDA have found plenty of evidence that e-cigarettes still pose more dangers than they are worth. An effective education program teaches the truth about e-cigarettes, the importance of making healthy choices, and how to deal with peer pressure.
To learn more about vape detectors and how they might benefit your school or business, contact your local vape detection installation service.