It’s no secret that nicotine-addicted teens break out of class to vape, often in school bathrooms.
But a new technology has emerged to help school administrators spot them in the act: vape detectors.
The Holy Family Catholic Regional Division in Peace River, Alta., is adopting vaping detectors this fall for its eight school buildings.
Superintendent Betty Turpin said the idea came from students during a board meeting.
“It was unanimous that students reported that vaping was taking place in the restrooms and that they found it uncomfortable to go to the restrooms,” Turpin said in an interview.
“When students say that, you can’t just ignore it. Something has to be done because all students need to feel comfortable in school.”
The vaping detectors cost $1,700 each. The division has spent a total of $80,000 to install 35 devices in eight schools. Turpin said they hope to mitigate the costs with grant money.
The devices detect particles and loud noises and send a message to administrators’ phones, who can then investigate.
Les Hagen, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health, acknowledged that schools need to try alternative measures to help students quit smoking and vaping.
“I feel very sorry for the schools because the schools have become ground zero for the vaping epidemic,” Hagen said.
“We are allowing tobacco and vaping companies to push these products to children.”
installed on ceilings
While some schools in the United States have had problems with students destroying detectors or administrators failing to intervene in time, Turpin said that’s not a major concern.
The devices are installed in cages on the roof. Turpin said at least one administrator will always be free to check on alerts, and security cameras can also be used in hallways.
She hopes the detectors will help improve the student experience and curb vaping at school.
“This just allows for awareness,” he said. “All of our schools know, all of our families know, all of our students know that these devices will be in their schools and hopefully this will stop them from vaping.”
In Alberta, vaping is illegal for anyone under the age of 18. Minors who possess or use vaping products can be fined. Adults who sell or give away vaping products to minors may face penalties.
“We may not stop them from vaping outside of school hours, but our schools have rules and vaping is considered an illegal substance,” Turpin said.
Division students caught vaping have their vaporizers confiscated. Parents or guardians are called and the student is suspended for three days. Recidivism leads to longer suspensions.
The school also brings in addiction experts for class workshops to educate students about the risks of vaping.
impact zone
Hagen, of Action on Smoking and Health, encourages schools to try corrective measures beyond the excessive use of suspensions.
“We don’t need to create another problem here. We encourage schools that if they are going to use punitive measures, be corrective.”
Hagen said it’s important to remember the reasons kids might vape.
“We are allowing tobacco and vaping companies to push these products to children.”
Candy-like flavors are one way that vaping products can appeal to children. While some provinces have banned the sale of flavors, the Alberta government and the federal government have not. Canada has banned other flavored tobacco products, such as menthol cigarettes.
“The very simple answer is to just align the regulations we have on tobacco products with vaping products,” Hagen said. “The sooner governments do it, the better. And hopefully we can let schools do their job of teaching our children.”
In a statement provided to Breaking:, the Alberta government said it has no plans to ban flavored vaping products at this time.
“During the consultation to support the Tobacco, smoking and vaping reduction lawWe heard from Albertans that the availability of flavors is important to the success of smokers looking for a less harmful alternative as a means to quit smoking,” the statement said.
Health Canada said it is looking into the issue and recognizes that flavored products are used by both young people and those trying to quit smoking. Health Canada said information on vape sales and ingredients is being collected to develop policy and regulations.
