Technology can help your school battle the vaping epidemic

          U. S. schools have been battling smoking on campus for decades.  Nowadays, with the help of technology, students are turning to e-cigarettes due (in part) to their discreet shape and size, meaning they can “vape” or “Juul” anywhere, anytime.  
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          According to an article published in 2018 by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, “E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes . . . Some e-cigarettes are made to look like regular cigarettes, while some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items.”  ​

          With a wide variety of flavors available to appease their cravings, it’s no wonder students are turning to modernized forms of smoking.  The 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey found a concerning boost in e-cigarette usage among students—a 1.5 million student usage increase in comparison to 2017.  This is a 78% increase among high school students, and a 48% increase among middle schoolers.  Research has also found that of the almost 5 million youth tobacco users, over 70% of those users now choose vaping over traditional tobacco products.  

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Image Credit: Center for Tobacco Products.  FDA, 2019.

          Referred to as “e-cigs,” “vapes,” and “Juuls,” these devices, when used, produce an aerosol or “vape” that is inhaled into the lungs and exhaled into the air—very similar to second-hand smoke.  The dangers of nicotine addiction are not to be taken lightly, as per the CDC, “Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.”  Due to the multi-functional use of some vaping devices, i.e. marijuana and other drugs, it is now more important than ever for school districts to remain one step ahead of these dangerous trends.
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          In order to help our customers combat the vaping epidemic, DCTS has partnered with IPVideo Corporation as a seller of the HALO IOT Smart Sensor—a real-time vape detection device.  The HALO IOT Smart Sensor is capable of detecting vape, smoke, and THC around areas of your school otherwise prohibited from video surveillance.  Additionally, sensors can be placed inside each classroom to discourage secret vaping, and allow teachers more time to focus on other important things, like educating.

​Works Cited
“2018 E-Cigarette Data. Youth Tobacco Use: Results from the National Youth Tobacco Survey.”  FDA, 2019.  Accessed  July 3rd, 2019 from https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/youth-and-tobacco/youth-tobacco-use-results-national-youth-tobacco-survey#1.
“Keep Kids E-Cigarette Free.”  Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019.  Accessed July 4th, 2019 from https://www.cdc.gov/features/ecigarettes-back-to-school/index.html.   
“HALO Smart Sensor.”  IPVideo Corporation, 2019.  Accessed July 3rd, 2019 from https://ipvideocorp.com/halo/.