Tackling Student Vape Use in Schools: Innovative Strategies

Vaping has become a growing concern and a real problem for school administrators and parents. While many may assume that vaping is primarily a problem among high school students, it is sadly becoming an issue among younger students. The phenomenon of student vape use at schools requires continued dialogue between educators and parents, but schools need partnerships to help address and solve this ever-growing problem. This is where Avertere can help!

Avertere's Vape Detection Program

Leverage Avertere's JUMP START PACKAGE to pilot vape detection within two bathrooms to demonstrate value. At the same time, Avertere walks customers through Avertere's GRANT FUNDING PROGRAM for a total coverage zero-cost deployment.

What is Vaping?

First and foremost, it is essential to understand what vaping is and why it is so popular among students. Vaping involves inhaling and exhaling the aerosol, often called vapor, produced by an e-cigarette or similar device. E-cigarettes heat a liquid (usually containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals) into an aerosol inhaled into the lungs. Many students are drawn to vaping because they believe it is a safer and less harmful alternative to smoking traditional cigarettes. However, studies have shown that vaping can still adversely affect one's health, including respiratory problems and addiction. Moreover, the high levels of nicotine within the cartridges are sometimes 100 times higher than traditional leaf tobacco; therefore, creating conditions for underage users to become so addicted they have to have a hit of the "juice" every 5-10 minutes to maintain homeostasis. 

What are the challenges?

According to John Hopkins Medical, there has been an outbreak of lung injuries and deaths associated with vaping. In February 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed 2,807 e-cigarettes or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) cases and 68 deaths attributed to that condition.

One of the biggest challenges in addressing student vape use is that it can be difficult to detect. Unlike smoking, vaping makes little to no odor and often looks like harmless devices such as a pen or USB drive. Students may vape in bathrooms (most common), stairwells, or other secluded areas. Teachers also report having caught students trying to hide their vaping in their classrooms during class time! Even the most vigilant of teachers and administrators could use an assist in keeping acts of vaping down on their campuses. 

One reliable way to address student vape use on school campuses is through advanced technology. In partnership with Avertere, their relationships with cutting-edge technology can help schools detect the use of vapes on campus with pinpoint accuracy. Vape detection can be wrapped up into secondary technologies that date time-stamp activities.  This simple solution would help administrators quickly identify students who desperately require cessation vaping interventions.

Avertere can put a plan in place for schools to detect even the smallest particles in the air, including those of e-cigarettes. By installing nonoptical monitoring devices in high-usage areas such as bathrooms and stairwells, schools can detect the presence of vaping and take immediate action to address the issue.

Partnering with Avertere can be a powerful tool for schools looking to address the problem of student vape use on campus. By implementing this advanced technology, schools can proactively detect and eliminate vaping and promote healthy behaviors among students.

Overall, schools must take a multi-faceted approach to address student vape use. By educating students about the risks of vaping, implementing solid policies and resources to support those struggling with addiction, and partnering with innovative companies like Avertere, we can create a safer and healthier learning environment for all students.

Why Avertere?

Avertere is a complete Cybersecurity consulting and services firm dedicated solely to student, administrative, and faculty members safety within the education sector. We want to bring security to all schools and converge physical and Cybersecurity services on behalf of the education sector, so our teachers can focus on teaching and less on technology responsibilities.