• Vape Detector Pilot Program

     

    Supporting Safe, Healthy Schools for All Students

     

    As part of the Anchorage School District’s (ASD) commitment to prevention and student well-being, the ASD Mental Health and Student Supports (MHSS) team is collaborating with the Instructional Division to implement a Comprehensive Prevention Program which includes a pilot of vape detectors in select school bathrooms during the 2025–2026 school year.

     

    This pilot was approved by the Anchorage School Board in June 2024 (Memo #150) as part of a multi-year plan to address substance misuse across ASD. The effort is funded through settlement funds received from JUUL Labs. The multi-year plan includes defining substance misuse in ASD and planning a PreK-12 prevention & early intervention program.

     

    The pilot includes three secondary schools and is one part of the multi-year comprehensive strategy. ASD will install and activate vape detectors from Triton Sensors in the pilot schools by August 25, 2025.

     

    ASD will evaluate the pilot using pre- and post-surveys with students, families, and staff to inform any potential expansion. The pilot is aligned with ASD’s larger Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework.

     

    A focus on prevention

     

    This work reflects ASD’s commitment that prevention isn’t just a program, it’s the climate and culture we build to protect students before problems start. Vaping continues to pose serious health risks to young people, including respiratory harm and nicotine addiction. Vape detectors serve as one tool, a deterrent, not a discipline device, that helps schools take early action while preserving student dignity and privacy.

     

    Without a strong prevention strategy:

     

    • Warning signs are missed. 

    • Misperceptions spread (“everyone’s vaping” becomes the default). 

    •Schools become reactive, strained, and stuck in crisis response.

    This pilot is part of a broader strategy to:

    • Reduce risk factors through positive climate, visibility of healthy choices, and clear expectations.

    • Correct misperceptions (e.g., “everyone is vaping”) through a research-based Social Norms Campaign, coming soon.

    What Students and Families Can Expect

     

    Detectors are designed to alert designated staff when vaping is detected in bathrooms. Staff will respond with care, following practices that prioritize privacy, student safety, and access to support. This effort compliments our classroom health curriculum, student-led initiatives, and schoolwide wellness campaigns.

    Big Picture: A School Culture Built on Prevention

     

    “Prevention is that feeling when school notices something early and doesn’t make it worse.” — High School Student

    Here’s what we’re seeing across ASD:

     

    • 70% of local youth say they feel supported by their community. (AASB SCCS, 2023)

    • 62% of secondary students say they feel like they matter to people at school.(AASB SCCS, 2023)

    These numbers show that students are noticing the care and support around them and it’s making a difference.

    This pilot is part of an effort to keep students safe and celebrate and encourage healthy choices.

     

     

    Vape Detector Pilot Community Feedback Form

     

    For questions about the vape detector pilot, contact the ASD Instructional Division Secondary Department.

     

    For ASD’s broader prevention efforts, contact: ASD Wellness Supports