School district to install ‘vape detectors’
Posted September 7, 2023 3:34 pm.
A catholic school division in northern Alberta is trying a new way to combat teen vaping — installing devices that can detect it — but it could be saving students’ lungs in other ways.
“It can detect particulates in the air. So it doesn’t just do vape, it does other substances as well along with air quality, loud noises, it picks up on all those different things that could happen in small areas in a school,” Betty Turpin, Superintendent of the Holy Family Catholic Regional Division.
Turpin says it was Peace River area students themselves that brought concerns over students vaping in bathrooms and other places teachers aren’t watching to administrators.
In total, 35 of the devices like a smoke detector will be installed in Catholic Jr. Highs and High Schools at a cost of $80-thousand. The Holy Family Catholic Regional Division is paying for that out of pocket, but hopes provincial grants can cover the costs.
One of the detectors going into an elementary school — but not because of vaping concerns — but monitoring air quality in schools during wildfire smoke.
Those advocating against youth smoking and vaping tell me that more needs to be done on the legislative side to stop youth vaping at the source.
“If we want to protect them from vaping products, we really have to target the companies that continue to develop sophisticated campaigns. Colourful products with all kinds of flavors that have youth appeal. We have to put an end to this non-sense,” explained Les Hagen, Executive Director of Action on Smoking Health.
CityNews reached out to Edmonton Public Schools about the detectors, they say they have no plans to install any at this time.
