Recent data shows that 11% of middle and high school schoolchildren use some form of tobacco product. But what about vape devices and dab pens? Teachers and other educational professionals find it hard to control the influx of different types of dap pens in schools as they are lots of designs. This makes it challenging to identify these items in bags or in the classroom.

Instead of accepting that there is no way to control vape pens, it’s important to find ways to educate young students on the dangers of vaping and implement the proper security measures like vape detectors.

But first, read this article to learn about the differences between dap pens and vapes. Then, you can buy the correct detector for your school facility.

A teenager smoking a dab pen outside on a sidewalk

What Are Dab Pens?

Dab pens are small, portable devices used to smoke cannabis products. Another term for these devices is “wax vaporizer,” but the name dab pens comes from how they function. To use this device, you need a semi-sold wax substance and the right features.

Once you have the wax and dab pen, you heat it up with a battery-powered element and inhale through a mouthpiece. It can be easy to confuse dab pens with vapes at a glance. One potential problem with dab pens is that they can get hotter on the outside than vapes.

The critical differences between dap pens and vapes are the temperature and heating method. But other differences include the battery capacity and the price. As dab pen options tend to be more expensive, it’s more common to find school children with vapes.

Vapes are also easier to use and hide in their belongings. This is why you’ll see children with vapes and vaping liquid in their backpacks when they arrive for class.

Why Is There a Recent Rise in Vaping and Dab Pens?

Studies reveal that 27.6% of high school and middle school students report daily use of e-cigarettes, but this number keeps increasing as more vape shops pop up in local areas. It’s normal for all children to break the rules, and vaping offers a great way to explore a risky product.

The sweet smells of the liquid and easy-to-hide design make it appealing to younger people and encourage them to involve their friends. Plus, social media has pressured young children to follow their peers and try vaping.

When vaping is displayed as something attractive and popular, it creates more challenges for educators to stop children from purchasing these products. Buying vapes is accessible for most children in cities with a vape shop, so it’s almost impossible to prevent young students from using this habit.

So, what are the side effects of vaping at a young age? And is it vital to put security measures in place for school buildings?

Side Effects of Vaping and Dab Pens

The FDA tracks the annual use of e-cigarettes and other smoking products, but this only provides the data for educators. Learning about the physical and mental side effects can help increase awareness and stop other children from potentially damaging their health.

Smoking marijuana products can lead to long-term addiction and influence the possibility of work opportunities in the future. When a child gets addicted to tobacco products, their brain gets hooked on the substance, making it tricky to heal from the addiction later in life.

Getting in trouble for using dab pens or vaping also takes time away from their studies and can lead to suspension. So, this is one major side effect of these products and why educators are prioritizing starting campaigns to warn young students of the dangers.

Harmful Ingredients

Young people might not know the importance of reading labels and checking for high-quality ingredients. Therefore, some brands will sell children cheap products that contain possible harmful ingredients. For example, some flavoring chemicals are dangerous and could cause cardiovascular disease.

But, it’s not only the ingredients that are problematic. The battery-powered devices are hazards in the classroom as they are often kept in closed bags and can lead to fires. Unless they are stored safely in a locker or box, they could be a fire hazard to other students and staff members.

Habit-Forming Quality

Habit-forming products like vapes or dab pens come with the risk of introducing people to other recreational drugs. Even if the habit starts as something small, the peer pressure and continuity lead to more experimenting with drugs and alcohol. The good thing is schools are great places for inspiring healthy habits.

You can hold workshops, invite guest speakers, and hold questions sessions with students to ask them about their concerns. If you spend time understanding the appeal of these products, you’ll be able to create an effective strategy for reducing the number of vapes in schools.

It’s also vital for parents to have input and be able to voice their worries to teachers in confidence. So, organizing parent meetings to talk about vaping is a good approach.

Vaping Signs in Children

Every child reacts differently to vaping products, but there are some general signs to look out for when observing students. An obvious sign of vaping is smoke circles and sweet odors. When several students walk through the doors, and there’s a trail of smoke, it’s most likely from a vaping decides or dab pens.

Smells are also an instant sign that students have been vaping before their school day. If you suspect a child is vaping on the school premises, you should have a policy and follow the guidelines. This means reporting to a principal, writing paperwork, or contacting parents.

But it’s also important to try to approach the student calmly so you don’t make the situation worse. This is particularly important if they are surrounded by friends as you don’t want to isolate them necessarily.

Vaping Tools on the Desk

Vaping devices are recognizable by their design, so hanging up posters about them around the school is a helpful tip for helping teachers remove them in class. The biggest problem is if the vape device is left on a desk, but people don’t notice it as they are unfamiliar with the design.

New brands are creating vapes that look like other stationary items, such as USB sticks or pens. So, you need to be extra vigilant about identifying and taking them away from students in the school. You can also encourage other students to get involved in starting campaigns to stop vaping.

The students and teachers can be negatively impacted by vaping in schools, so it’s good to reach out and build a trusting relationship with your faculty.

Behavior Changes and Health Problems

Teenagers are known for experiencing mood swings, but if their behavior is drastically different, then there might be something else going on. When young adults become addicted to vaping or dab pens, it can take a moment for you to notice the changes. A few common changes are increased irritability, anxiety, depression, or agitation.

As a teacher, it’s important to watch out for this behavior and report it to colleagues. This means the whole faculty can get involved and be united when addressing vaping concerns with parents.

If children are displaying signs of shortness of breath, nausea, and weight loss, you must also investigate and ask the student about their health problems.

How Schools Can Help

Luckily, schools can make a positive difference when combating the rise in vaping and dab pens. Anonymous reporting is a simple way to encourage students to speak up about vaping without the risk of being bullied or isolated from the rest of their class. You can create online software so students can report to principals from the comfort of their own space.

Software for reporting vaping can also be used to track other issues like bullying, harassment, and threats. This way, you can use it for several processes and to speed up the response time from colleagues.

Vape detectors are essential for large school buildings and are the quickest way to spot these products among children. Similar to smoke alarms, these units can pick up smoke from different areas and send alerts to school employees. If you’re worried about vaping, this is the most reliable solution for detecting vapes or dab pens.

The smart features allow you to access the detectors from your phone and can be installed easily. So, reach out to get your estimate today and start making changes to your school system.

Install Vaping Detectors This Year

Understanding the difference between dab pens and vapes is crucial for preventing more children from learning these habits. The trick is to stay informed and put the right detectors around the building. Controlling the environment with security alerts will stop children from vaping on the premises.

But you need to ensure that the vape detectors will work when required and not go off accidentally. Otherwise, your teachers will be constantly disrupted by bleeping alarms. You want these units to improve your systems, not make them worse.

Contact Us to learn more about the vape detector product on our platform. Our blog has great resources for educators and tips for limiting vaping during the school day.