With CDC data from 2022 showing that 1 in 7 high school students reported having used an e-cigarette in the last 30 days, it’s no surprise to find that some schools have taken to installing vape detectors on their campuses in an attempt to thwart student vape use. What might surprise you, though, is the fact that some schools are reportedly using money from legal settlements with e-cigarette company Juul Labs to fund the installation of vape-detecting devices across their campuses.
Juul has reached settlements with various school districts, states, and others in which the company will reportedly pay over $2 billion to settle various lawsuits that have been filed against the company.
Vape detectors are designed to detect chemicals from e-cigarettes that are in the air. There are a variety of different types of vape detectors offered by a number of different companies. Some market their devices as affordable detectors for “school safety” while others tout capabilities that extend beyond the detection of e-cigarette vapor, such as smoke detection and even sound abnormalities like shouting — the latter of which may be useful to school administrators that are tasked with combating the evergoing concern of bullying.
Triton Sensors, HALO Smart Sensor, ICAS, Verkada, and Zeptive are just a handful of the brands offering vape detectors to consumers. Do they work?
Do Vape Detectors Actually Work?
If you ask New York’s Mechanicville City School District whether vape detectors really work, the answer is not only yes but that they are working well. However, Ken Cooper, the security advisor for the school district, has said that they’re not perfect, as they’re sometimes triggered when no vape is present.
How Much Does A Vape Detector Cost?
Vape detectors cost anywhere from tens of dollars to well north of a thousand dollars. They’re not particularly cheap, especially if you intend on buying more than one. On the low end of the cost spectrum, vape detectors like the Affordable Air Quality Detector PM2.5 from Ubatek will run you around $63 at the time of reporting, whereas the Soter FlySense Vape Detector will run you $1,820 if you buy it from the Quill business supply store.
