Glen Rock High School Bathrooms Reportedly Getting Vape Detectors

GLEN ROCK, NJ – Glen Rock will reportedly be among some of the first school districts in New Jersey to install vape detectors.

Starting in mid-October, the devices will be placed in the restrooms of Glen Rock High School as part of a pilot program, TapInto reported.

The decision was prompted by a recent survey at the school that found 30% of students did not feel safe in bathrooms due to other kids vaping, the report said.

The sensor devices – which look similar to smoke detectors – can detect vaping in places like bathrooms or closets. Once detected, a notification is sent to school administrators.

As the number of kids who use e-cigrarettes continues to rise, a growing number of districts across the country have opted to install vape detectors.

Schools in 46 states, including New Jersey, are already using the detectors, CBS 2 recently reported. So far, about 10 other districts in the Garden State have added the devices, however nearly 100 more have begun exploring it, according to CBS 2.

Sparta High School in Sussex County received units this fall and school districts in Burlington and Camden counties installed the monitoring systems earlier this year, Whyy.org reported.

Glen Rock school officials will reportedly review data collected during the pilot before determining whether additional detectors are needed in the high school. Like many other school districts, Glen Rock - in conjunction with the local police department - has also taken other steps to try and curb youth vaping, including educational programs for both students and parents.

However, despite increased attempts to raise awareness of the risks, more teens across the country are vaping. A Food and Drug Administration survey last fall shows a 78% spike among high school students and a 48% increase among middle schoolers, prompting the agency to describe it as an "epidemic."

Last week, the FDA announced it would draft new regulations prohibiting the sale of flavored e-cigarettes and nicotine pods.

Within the last 90 days, more than 380 people nationwide have been hospitalized due to vaping-related illnesses, many of the patients being teens and young adults, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy recently created a task force to look into health concerns related to e-cigarette use.