“Not all of them were kids caught with vape devices. We were working through the sensitivity of the sensors and other software issues as we learned how to use the system,” said Meloche.

But once students became aware the sensors were in place and the kinks were worked out in the system, Meloche said there were less than 50 instances of sensor alerts for the entire 2023-24 school year.

“It is not perfect, and nothing usually is, and it is not completely eliminating the problem, but the one thing it did right off the bat was it just eliminated students hanging out in the bathroom,” said Meloche. “I’m guessing there were a lot of times there was vaping and passing it around, but that got eliminated the first month we had the system in place and has not returned since.”

What districts and administrators are up against was highlighted in a Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) Tobacco Section report released in 2023.

“According to the report, nearly one third of Michigan high school students have used e-cigarettes, and 14% report current use,” said Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian, MDHHS’ chief medical executive. “More than 80% of youth who have used a tobacco product started with a flavored product. E-cigarettes are detrimental to the health of our young Michigan residents, and these products can be highly addictive and can contain a variety of toxic chemicals and heavy metals.”

A 2022 University of Michigan study found that 7% of 8th graders, 14% of 10th graders, and 21% of 12th graders used a vape device to consume nicotine in the past 30 days.

The process

Berkley has added six more sensors at the high school, which has 1,250 students, and sensors have also been installed at its two middle schools.

The sensors look like smoke detectors, but can identify various things that will set them off.

Sensors can detect liquid nicotine and liquid THC vapors released by vape devices — such as e-cigarettes — used by students. The sensors can also detect masking agents such as aerosol body deodorant, hair spray, cologne or perfume. They will also send out an alert if they are tampered with.

At Berkley, if any sensor goes off for any reason, hall monitors and administrators receive email and text message alerts and respond to the designated bathroom. They wait outside for students to exit the bathroom and take them aside to talk with them.

“We ask them if they have anything on them they are not supposed to and, if we have to, to empty their pockets and look into their backpack if needed, but we do not put hands on kids,” said Meloche, who is entering his 7th year as BHS principal.

If a device is found in the possession of a student, the punishment varies.

If the device contains liquid nicotine or straight vapor, it is a 2-3 day suspension, which can be reduced if the student enrolls in a program through organizations such as CARE of Southeast Michigan.

“Sometimes we may shorten the length of a suspension if they prove to us that they have enrolled in some sort of vape education program outside of here that teaches them more about it,” said Meloche.

If the device has THC or marijuana, it is a violation under the school code of conduct as drugs or alcohol and carries an automatic 10-day suspension.

Hazel Park students who are caught must pay a $50 ticket and participate in a school vaping education program and possible suspension.

“It is a classroom setting, much like an in-school suspension, but not, because you are working on social and emotional learning there and vape education,” Hazel Park superintendent Amy Kruppe said of the program.

Students caught vaping with a marijuana product face a ticket, 10-day suspension and a meeting with the superintendent. Students can reduce their suspension time by meeting with the superintendent earlier.

Meloche estimated the initial cost of the installation of the software and sensors at the high school was around $25,000 and the total cost for what the district currently has is just short of $60,000.

All costs for the sensor system were paid for through a state grant and the district now owns all the equipment and software.

“Although we did use grant money to fund it, we outright own them and they are permanent fixtures we have going forward,” said Meloche.

Kruppe did not reveal how many sensors the district currently has or how much they cost, but did say the devices are permanent and the cost was covered by a state safety grant, the same as Berkley.

The situation

Recent studies and reports have shown the prevalence of vaping both nationwide and in the state and what policies districts have in place.

A national youth tobacco survey released in 2023 showed that nationwide 7.7% of students (2.1 million) reported current use of e-cigarettes with 10% (1.5 million) high school students and 4.6% (550,000) middle school students reporting current use.

The survey also showed that students do not just intermittently experiment with vaping.

More than 1 in 4 — 25.2% of current youth e-cigarette users use an e-cigarette product every day and more than 1 in 3 — 34.7% of users report using e-cigarettes at least 20 times in the last 30 days.

The most commonly used device among current e-cigarette users was disposables — 60.7%, followed by prefilled/refillable pods or cartridges — 16.1%.

According to the Center for Disease Control in Atlanta, 33.1% of Michigan high school students have tried electronic vapor products in their lifetime, and 14% currently use them.

In the state, vape sensors could become more common based on a report card from the American Lung Association’s 20th annual “State of Tobacco Control” report, released Jan 2022.

The report grades all 50 states and the District of Columbia in five areas that have been proven to prevent and reduce tobacco use. Michigan received the following grades:

F — Funding for State Tobacco Prevention Programs C — Strength of Smokefree Air Laws F — Level of State Tobacco Taxes D — Coverage and Access to Services to Quit Tobacco F — Ending the Sale of All Flavored Tobacco Products

“Kids follow the flavors, so ending the sale of all flavored tobacco products in Michigan is key to ending youth tobacco use,” Ken Fletcher, Director of Advocacy at the Lung Association, said in the report. “We call on legislators in Lansing to prohibit the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including menthol, across Michigan.”

Enforced tobacco policies and punishments vary throughout the state, but the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) has designated guidelines.

Category 1: Prohibition of tobacco use within buildings at all times, but outdoor use is allowed after 6 p.m. on regularly scheduled school days, during weekends, and any other days on which there are no regularly scheduled school hours. This is the minimum tobacco-free school policy required by Michigan law.

Category 2: Prohibition of tobacco use that applies to everyone on school grounds, but not at off-grounds school-sponsored events.

Category 3: Prohibition of tobacco use that applies to everyone at all times, on-campus and off-campus at school-sponsored events.

Category 4: Has the same degree of prohibition as category 3, but also includes e-cigarettes and other next-generation tobacco products. This is the most comprehensive policy category.

An MDHHS report released in 2023 shows among Michigan’s public school districts, 87% apply category 4 guidelines as of March 2023, which is a 240% increase since 2014.

While 87% of public school districts have a category 4, only 56% of Michigan counties have complete category 4 coverage. In the state, 44% of counties still have at least one school district without a comprehensive tobacco-free school policy.

In Oakland County, six out of 28 school districts apply only category 2 guidelines — Farmington, Lamphere, Novi, Rochester South Lyon and Walled Lake, while the rest apply category 4.

Only Hazel Park and Berkley use vape sensors in their buildings.

“I’m not a fool. Teenage vaping isn’t solved, but I think for my school … I do feel like our bathrooms are a safer space after we installed them than prior to when we installed them,” said Meloche. “It is a safer space for kids to walk in and not have to see something that they are not interested in whatsoever.”

He added, “Sensors are the most effective tools he has seen for curbing teen vaping in schools. It works well within our setting and It has worked well for us as a district.”

Kruppe is also satisfied with the sensors in place in her district and the results they have gotten.

“We have real sample size and we have seen real results,” said Kruppe. “I consider the system a success.”