Maryland High School Replaces Toilets After Students Flush Vapes

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Bel Air High School in Harford County, Maryland has had to replace at least four toilets in the past month after students flushed their vaping devices down the drain. The school says the issue has become so frequent that at one point, every bathroom had a non-functioning toilet due to the problem. The school is now using metal detectors to screen students for vaping products.

Why it matters

Flushing vaping devices down school toilets is a growing problem that can cause significant plumbing issues and financial costs for schools. This highlights the challenges schools face in addressing student vaping, which remains a major public health concern despite declining youth tobacco use rates.

The details

According to reports, the plastic construction of vaping devices does not break down well when flushed, leading to clogged pipes and damaged toilets at Bel Air High School. Each replacement toilet costs the school $200. At one point, every bathroom in the school had at least one non-functioning toilet due to the issue.

• In the past month, at least four toilets have been destroyed at Bel Air High School.
• The school began using metal detectors to screen students for vaping devices as an interim measure to address the problem.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The school district plans to continue using metal detectors to screen students for vaping devices in an effort to curb the issue and prevent further damage to the school's plumbing system.