Transparent toilets, bathroom detectors flawed fixes for vaping crisis, but in-school suspensions might be the answer

Vaping suspensions in Queensland schools are skyrocketing, new figures show. But the tough measures introduced to tackle the trend – such as bathroom detectors and transparent toilet blocks – are either too expensive or just aren’t reliable.

Queensland schools’ hard line crackdown on vaping is doing students more harm than good, with substance-related suspensions spiking sharply and the increase attributing to vaping.

Physical measures to tackle the trend – such as bathroom vape detectors, or rebuilding toilet blocks so they are more transparent – are either too expensive, or simply impractical.

Principals say they cannot fight the vaping culture alone and need tougher laws on the supply and sale of vapes, with students knowing which shops will sell vapes to minors.

A number of students were suspended from Emmaus College Rockhampton earlier this month after a video surfaced of students vaping in a toilet block. Photo: Supplied.

A parliamentary inquiry into vaping is underway, after a push from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk. It aims to find out what vapes contain, look at the risks the chemicals pose, find ways to curb the habit, and specifically investigate the prevalence of vaping in schools.

In response to a recent Question on Notice, Education Minister Grace Grace revealed state school suspensions and exclusions due to substance misconduct had spiked in the past two years. Substance misconduct includes illicit substances, tobacco, or other legal substances.

The Department of Education has attributed the sharp increase to students vaping or possessing vaping implements, based on feedback from schools.

Smoking, including electronic cigarettes, is banned within five metres of all Queensland state and non-state schools, during and after school hours, on weekends and school holidays.

Queensland Secondary Principals’ Association president Mark Breckenridge said the way vaping is marketed makes it very attractive to young people.

“It is certainly taking up a lot of time for staff in schools to address the vaping issue,” he said.

“It’s illegal to sell these (nicotine vapes), but anecdotally, students know which shops will sell to them, or if they stand outside an adult will buy for them. Plus they can get them online.

“Schools are exploring vaping detectors – some pick up vapour in the air and send an alert to the school office. But schools report the costs are holding them back.”

Mark Breckenridge. Photo: Richard Gosling – AAP.

A South East Queensland deputy principal, who asked not to be named, said current solutions to the vaping problem all had major drawbacks.

“Most deputy principals do not sit at their desks all day watching for an alert saying a vape detector has been triggered in the toilets,” he said.

“We can link up cameras showing people going in and out of the bathrooms, but it’s all circumstantial evidence as to who was vaping.

“Cigarettes used to have a distinctive smell that sticks to you, but vapes are like lollipops, so it’s very challenging to pick them up.

“And as for redesigning the toilet block … you need a million dollars to change each one.

“There are solutions to this, but it is a whole-of-society solution. Schools won’t solve it on their own, parents talking to their kids about vaping is the first step.”

Curtin University’s Professor of Public Health Jonine Jancey said vapes began as a tool to help people quit smoking, but it has since been reinvented as an entirely new product.

“When we spoke to young people about why they vape, it was things like peer pressure, also it smells and tastes good, it’s not burning like a cigarette, and it feels clean so how can it be harmful?” she said.

“Currently, we have a system where you need a prescription for a nicotine vape, but there are loopholes allowing these products to be brought into the country.

“These products may contain nicotine, but they are labelled as not containing any, entering the country, and falling in young people’s hands.”

QUT Centre for Inclusive Education’s Professor Linda Graham said current out-of-school suspensions mean students miss class and spend more time in an environment where vaping is condoned. She said in-school suspensions could be a viable solution.

“Public school systems in the United States have implemented in-school suspension,” she said.

“In-school suspension is not used as a punishment, rather as a means to educate or to build skills. Australian schools need more support to implement skills-focused in-school suspension, and vaping needs to be subjected to the same regulation as tobacco.

“Out-of-school suspension has negative effects of its own.”

Queensland University of Technology education Professor Linda Graham. Photo: Supplied.

Education Minister Grace Grace said her office takes vaping seriously.

“We have school-based youth health nurses working with students and staff to highlight the risks, and we also work closely with other agencies like Queensland Health through initiatives like Vape Truths videos with Dr Karl,” she said.

“Schools are well prepared to play their part, but they cannot solve this issue alone themselves – this is a broader public health issue that society as a whole needs to address.”

LNP education spokesman Dr Christian Rowan said the Labor Government is losing the battle on reducing drug use in schools.

“These figures are alarming and Queensland parents are rightfully concerned,” he said.

“You can’t fix what you don’t measure and I’m also deeply concerned by the Education Minister’s admission that the data still does not accurately capture the type of drugs and substances that students are caught using.”