Vape detectors could be installed in South Australian schools in a bid to stamp out the dangerous habit among young people.
South Australian Education Minister Blair Boyer announced a vape action plan across this week.
He said the installation of vape detectors were not part of the initial plan but were being considered in the near future.
"We've got to keep in mind as well that ... installing these vaping detectors will lead people to think that we have solved the problem, and we are likely to be pushing the vaping problem somewhere else," Mr Boyer said.
"Nonetheless, we are looking at doing it where appropriate, because what's happening in tandem with vaping in communal bathrooms is that a lot of vandalism is occurring at the same time, and both these things are being driven by TikTok trends."
Mt Gambier education director Adam Box said the vape detectors were being considered for installation at Grant High School after problems arose in the school's toilets involving vandalism and vaping.
Wrong attitude on vape
Mr Boyer said a recent survey of 1,000 students by the Commissioner for Children and Young People revealed two out of three respondents had tried vaping.
"I think that shows that people think it's a risk free activity which it is definitely not," he said.
"The problem is, it's not only the young people that are vaping that think that.
"In a lot of cases their parents, grandparents and carers think that's a safer thing to do than smoking tobacco and that's not necessarily the case."
He said many products which claimed to be nicotine-free actually contained nicotine.
What's the plan?
The Vaping Action Plan, which began on Monday, includes updating the health curriculum to teach kids about the impacts of e-cigarettes, and $2.25m to Life Education SA and Encounter Youth to deliver preventative educational programs.
A public health campaign and extra support to teaching staff is also being rolled out.
Mr Boyer said he hoped the vape action plan would eventually assist in designing a national health plan.
