Over 30 Lithuanian schools have installed smart vape detectors to curb rising teen vape use. WHO data show Lithuania ranks worst among 44 countries, with 60% of 15-year-olds having tried vaping. The system alerts staff to smoke and noise changes, helping schools reduce on-campus vaping cases.
Key Highlights
- Lithuania leads Europe in teen vaping; 60% of 15-year-olds have tried vapes.
- 30+ schools fitted with “Argus” vape and noise detection systems.
- Sensors detect vape, tobacco, heated tobacco, and cannabis smoke.
- Klaipėda Vytautas the Great Gymnasiumfirst to adopt; indoor cases fell sharply.
- Schools say tech helps prevention, but education and parental action remain key.
On October 27, 2025, according to Lithuanian media outlet Obzor, more than 30 schools across the country have installed smart vape and noise detectors to combat a growing youth vaping crisis, often occurring even inside school premises.
A 2024 WHO study found that Lithuania had the highest rate of teen vape use among 44 surveyed countries: one in five 11-year-olds, over one-third of 13-year-olds, and 60% of 15-year-olds had tried vaping.
At Klaipėda Vytautas the Great Gymnasium, deputy head Dalia Umantaitė-Vaivadienė said the school enforces zero tolerance: “We immediately inform parents, hand devices to police, and seek expert support.”
The school was the first in Lithuania to install Argus Security’s vape detection system, which tracks air temperature, humidity, CO₂ levels, and particles from vapes, heated tobacco, or cannabis. When triggered, alerts are sent to staff phones within seconds.
Argus sales manager Vigantas Mika said the detectors can also sense noise surges and tampering attempts, helping prevent conflicts or fire risks. “We’ve now deployed this technology in over 30 Lithuanian schools,” he said.
Umantaitė-Vaivadienė reported that incidents dropped within months: “We initially recorded over a dozen cases per week, now only a few. The devices reduced indoor smoking, though students may still vape outside.” She added that continued awareness and family engagement are essential to long-term success.
