Device Aims At Cracking Down On Vaping At Michigan Schools

MIDLAND, Mich. (WNEM) -- Mid-Michigan schools are cracking down on vaping as doctors across the country continue to grapple with lung illnesses tied to e-cigarettes and vaping products.

School leaders in Midland are seeing success with devices that detect vaping.

"We saw a dramatic increase in students, like every other school district around here, increase in the use of vape devices," said Matthew Wenzel, assistant principal at Midland High School.

Midland High School is battling the nationwide problem head on.

"Some students it's a status symbol because everybody's doing it, that's what we're hearing," Wenzell said.

For those students who think it's cool to vape in school, they've got another thing coming.

"[We're] making a change so that these students don't have long-term effects we don't know," Wenzell said.

That change is a vape detector, placed inside every bathroom throughout Midland High School and others in the district.

"It's a health issue as much as it is a hindrance for our building to function," said Midland Public Schools Superintendent Michael Sharrow.

Sharrow says he introduced the device after seeing an increase in vaping activity throughout the district and so far, it's working.

"We've been very pleased," he said.

And it doesn't just detect vaping.

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