In an effort to curb student vaping, Londonderry High School has begun installing vape detectors in both boys’ and girls’ bathrooms, marking a new step in the school’s effort to help students make healthier choices.
As stated in Principal Rick Barnes’ weekly update sent out on Oct. 20, “This proactive step reflects our concern about the health risks associated with vaping and our dedication to maintaining a safe, respectful learning environment.” Barnes confirmed that sensors will be installed in areas within the school deemed most necessary, beginning with the bathrooms.
Installing these detectors was a decision made by LHS, not prompted by the state or school board. While this idea has been discussed in prior years, this year, vaping has reached the point where monitoring is deemed necessary because, according to Barnes, “There [has] definitely [been] an uptick in the activity from the last couple of years.”
The new vape detectors, called Zeptive Alarms, can detect when THC or Nicotine is present without triggering an audible alert. The sensor can detect the chemical components of vape aerosol, catching this change in air quality that other types of detectors miss. Then, an alert goes directly to the administrators’ phones through the Zeptive app, and from there, the admin will decide how to respond and carry out punishment.
Barnes stated that the administration does not want to have to search children and find disciplinary infractions, but students are in a public place where they are supposed to be learning.
“At the end of the day, it’s a behavioral thing, but it’s also an addictive thing, and the addiction piece is strong,” Barnes said. “They are designed to be addictive.”
Barnes mentioned that additions to the school, including coping mechanisms and online modules, may become options.
“We’re looking into some preventative things,” Barnes said. “I would love for us to do some restorative practice around this, and I think [admin] is open to exploring this too.”
Building on these efforts, school nurse Casee Cullen believes that the vape detectors are “important to act as a deterrent for students who may go to vape.”
“[The detectors] will decrease the amount of time that [students] are smoking or vaping, which will then save their lungs a little bit,” Cullen said.“Students will only have the opportunity to vape after school or at home, or whatever. But during the school day, it won’t be an option.”
In addition, Cullen noted that the detectors serve as a broader reminder for students to make smart choices about their health.
“It almost seems kind of silly that we have to get to the level [of installing vape detectors],” Cullen said. “I think it’s important for students to realize that [vaping] is an unsafe practice, and we shouldn’t have to have a detector to remind ourselves not to do it. Students should just think on their own and make good choices.”
One of the biggest concerns that Cullen states is the uncertainty surrounding the long-term effects of vaping on students’ overall health.
“For cigarettes, we know what tobacco does to our lungs, but we just don’t know what all those chemicals in vapes are going to do to our lungs in the long term,” Cullen said. “If you’re a young teenager and you start vaping now, how’s it going to be when you’re 50, 60, 70, [years old], and are you going to have a lot of damage to the tissues of your lungs?”
Admin’s main goal is to ensure a safe and healthy environment for students and staff. With these new device installations, the school is able to keep track of areas with more vaping activity and will soon be able to find key patterns regarding students smoking throughout the day.
“It’s kind of interesting on the data end,” Barnes said. “You can start figuring out when and where [vaping is most prominent throughout the day], which allows [us] to be proactive.”
If you need help seeking addiction with Nicotine or THC, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration is always available to provide extra care.
“Any reduction [in vaping] is going to be positive in my mind, and if some students quit as a result of this, that’s a huge win,” Barnes said. “Even if it’s just one.”
