Students Are Hiding Vaping Devices In Plain Sight | TODAY By TODAY

THIS MORNING WE’RE HEADING TO A SCHOOL TO SEE WHO CAN SPOT THE SCHOOL TO SEE WHO CAN SPOT THE VAPE. VAPE. TAKE A CLOSE LOOK. TAKE A CLOSE LOOK. THIS STUDENT IS OUTFITTED WITH THIS STUDENT IS OUTFITTED WITH VAPING DEVICES BUT YOU CAN’T SEE VAPING DEVICES BUT YOU CAN’T SEE THEM. THEM.

WHY? WHY? THEY’RE DESIGNED TO LOOK JUST THEY’RE DESIGNED TO LOOK JUST LIKE NORMAL SCHOOL GEAR. LIKE NORMAL SCHOOL GEAR. FOR SALE ONLINE AND IN VAPE FOR SALE ONLINE AND IN VAPE SHOPS. SHOPS. GIVING KIDS NEW WAYS TO HIDE GIVING KIDS NEW WAYS TO HIDE THEIR VAPING HABITS ANYWHERE THEIR VAPING HABITS ANYWHERE THEY GO, INCLUDING SCHOOL.

THEY GO, INCLUDING SCHOOL. >> IT’S RAMPANT. >> IT’S RAMPANT. I THINK EVERY ADMINISTRATOR WHO I THINK EVERY ADMINISTRATOR WHO HAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH HAS A MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL ARE GRAPPLING WITH VAPING SCHOOL ARE GRAPPLING WITH VAPING ISSUES. ISSUES.

>> OVERSEEING THE BERKELEY >> OVERSEEING THE BERKELEY DISTRICT IN NEW JERSEY. DISTRICT IN NEW JERSEY. >> IT’S VIRTUALLY UNDETECTABLE. >> IT’S VIRTUALLY UNDETECTABLE. WE DON’T KNOW IF A STUDENT IS WE DON’T KNOW IF A STUDENT IS VAPING IN A CLASSROOM.

VAPING IN A CLASSROOM. >> WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK >> WOULD YOU KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? FOR? >> WE’RE TAKING OVER A CLASSROOM >> WE’RE TAKING OVER A CLASSROOM AT THIS HIGH SCHOOL FILLED WITH AT THIS HIGH SCHOOL FILLED WITH STUDENT VOLUNTEERS, THANK YOU, STUDENT VOLUNTEERS, THANK YOU, GUYS, AND WE’RE GOING TO PLANT GUYS, AND WE’RE GOING TO PLANT THESE HIDDEN VAPING DEVICES, AND THESE HIDDEN VAPING DEVICES, AND BRING IN TEACHERS AND PARENTS BRING IN TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND SEE JUST HOW WELL THEY DO AT AND SEE JUST HOW WELL THEY DO AT SPOTTING THE VAPE. SPOTTING THE VAPE. I GET TO WORK. I GET TO WORK.

HERE’S ONE THAT’S DESIGNED TO HERE’S ONE THAT’S DESIGNED TO LOOK LIKE A BLACK MARKER. LOOK LIKE A BLACK MARKER. STASHING STUFF ALL OVER THE STASHING STUFF ALL OVER THE CLASSROOM. CLASSROOM. THIS GUY LOOKS LIKE A USB, IT’S THIS GUY LOOKS LIKE A USB, IT’S NOT, IT’S A VAPE.

NOT, IT’S A VAPE. AND ON STUDENTS TOO. AND ON STUDENTS TOO. LOOKS LIKE SHE’S WEARING A LOOKS LIKE SHE’S WEARING A REGULAR HOODIE, BUT UNDERNEATH A REGULAR HOODIE, BUT UNDERNEATH A VAPING DEVICE. VAPING DEVICE.

SOME VAPES EVEN LOOK JUST LIKE SOME VAPES EVEN LOOK JUST LIKE SCHOOL SUPPLIES. SCHOOL SUPPLIES. LOOKS JUST LIKE A PEN BUT THE LOOKS JUST LIKE A PEN BUT THE VAPING DEVICE IS INSIDE AND YOU VAPING DEVICE IS INSIDE AND YOU CAN WRITE WITH IT. CAN WRITE WITH IT. TIME TO BRING IN OUR VOLUNTEERS.

TIME TO BRING IN OUR VOLUNTEERS. I’M VICKY NGUYEN WITH THE I’M VICKY NGUYEN WITH THE "TODAY" SHOW. "TODAY" SHOW. >> NICE TO MEET YOU. >> NICE TO MEET YOU.

>> WHAT’S YOUR NAME? >> WHAT’S YOUR NAME? >> MISS MORETTI. >> MISS MORETTI. WE HAVE OUTFITTED THIS CLASSROOM WE HAVE OUTFITTED THIS CLASSROOM WITH VAPING DEVICES, LOOK HIGH WITH VAPING DEVICES, LOOK HIGH AND LOW. AND LOW. YOU READY? YOU READY? >> I THINK I’M READY.

>> I THINK I’M READY. >> ONE MINUTE. >> ONE MINUTE. >> SHE SPOTS A COUPLE OF THEM. >> SHE SPOTS A COUPLE OF THEM.

>> THAT DEVICE, BUT BREEZES >> THAT DEVICE, BUT BREEZES RIGHT PAST MOST. RIGHT PAST MOST. BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT. BEFORE TIME RUNS OUT. >> THREE, TWO, AND THAT IS TIME.

>> THREE, TWO, AND THAT IS TIME. HOW MANY OF YOU HAD A VAPING HOW MANY OF YOU HAD A VAPING DEVICE THAT SHE SPOTTED. DEVICE THAT SHE SPOTTED. THREE ITEMS, NOT BAD. THREE ITEMS, NOT BAD.

HOW MANY OF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE HOW MANY OF YOU ACTUALLY HAVE VAPING DEVICES. VAPING DEVICES. BUT SHE MISSED 11 OF THE 14 BUT SHE MISSED 11 OF THE 14 ITEMS WE HID. ITEMS WE HID. >> IT’S SCARY.

>> IT’S SCARY. BECAUSE IT COULD BE JUST IN BECAUSE IT COULD BE JUST IN PLAIN SIGHT. PLAIN SIGHT. >> SOME TEACHERS SPOT A COUPLE >> SOME TEACHERS SPOT A COUPLE OF THE MORE OBVIOUS ONES. OF THE MORE OBVIOUS ONES.

>> THAT LOOKS LIKE ONE TOO. >> THAT LOOKS LIKE ONE TOO. >> Reporter: BUT MOST MISS THE >> Reporter: BUT MOST MISS THE HARDER TO FIND ITEMS LIKE THIS HARDER TO FIND ITEMS LIKE THIS WATCH. WATCH. SAM IS WEARING WHAT LOOKS LIKE A SAM IS WEARING WHAT LOOKS LIKE A SMART WATCH, BUT YOU PRESS THIS SMART WATCH, BUT YOU PRESS THIS BUTTON, THIS PART COMES OUT, YOU BUTTON, THIS PART COMES OUT, YOU CAN FILL THIS WITH NICOTINE AND CAN FILL THIS WITH NICOTINE AND IT’S AN E-CIGARETTE.

IT’S AN E-CIGARETTE. ALL FIVE TEACHERS MISSING THIS ALL FIVE TEACHERS MISSING THIS VAPE BACKPACK. VAPE BACKPACK. THIS ONE HAS A HIDDEN DEVICE THIS ONE HAS A HIDDEN DEVICE RIGHT HERE IN THE STRAP. RIGHT HERE IN THE STRAP.

>> THIS IS THE FIRST THING I >> THIS IS THE FIRST THING I WOULD THINK IS A CAMEL BACK, WOULD THINK IS A CAMEL BACK, GETTING WATER THROUGH IT. GETTING WATER THROUGH IT. >> Reporter: AND THE HOODIE. >> Reporter: AND THE HOODIE. >> I THINK IT’S INGENIOUS >> I THINK IT’S INGENIOUS MARKETING AND I’M A LITTLE MARKETING AND I’M A LITTLE FRIGHTENED.

FRIGHTENED. >> THIS COULD BE HAPPENING I GO >> THIS COULD BE HAPPENING I GO TO UNDER YOUR NOSE. TO UNDER YOUR NOSE. >> ABSOLUTELY. >> ABSOLUTELY.

IT COULD BE HAPPENING IN MY IT COULD BE HAPPENING IN MY HOUSE. HOUSE. I HAVE A 15-YEAR-OLD. I HAVE A 15-YEAR-OLD. SO NOW, NO HOODIES.

SO NOW, NO HOODIES. >> Reporter: EVEN THIS SCHOOL >> Reporter: EVEN THIS SCHOOL AID, A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER AID, A RETIRED POLICE OFFICER MISSING THE WATCH AND PEN. MISSING THE WATCH AND PEN. >> VERY DISHEARTENING THERE’S SO >> VERY DISHEARTENING THERE’S SO MANY OUT THERE THAT THE KIDS CAN MANY OUT THERE THAT THE KIDS CAN GET ACCESS TO. GET ACCESS TO.

>> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT PARENTS? >> Reporter: WHAT ABOUT PARENTS? WILL THEY DO A BETTER JOB WILL THEY DO A BETTER JOB SPOTTING THE VAPE? SPOTTING THE VAPE? >> I THINK THAT’S A VAPING >> I THINK THAT’S A VAPING DEVICE. DEVICE. >> NOT THIS GROUP. >> NOT THIS GROUP. >> HE WAS WRITING WITH A PEN BUT >> HE WAS WRITING WITH A PEN BUT INSIDE THE PEN -- INSIDE THE PEN -- >> OH, GOT ME.

>> OH, GOT ME. NOW I’VE GOT TO GO HOME AND NOW I’VE GOT TO GO HOME AND CHECK PENS. CHECK PENS. >> Reporter: PARENT AFTER PARENT >> Reporter: PARENT AFTER PARENT ALSO MISTAKING THE DECOYS FOR ALSO MISTAKING THE DECOYS FOR VAPES. VAPES.

>> I WAS POINTING AT THIS ONE, >> I WAS POINTING AT THIS ONE, BUT THAT ONE LOOKS FAIRLY BUT THAT ONE LOOKS FAIRLY SUSPICIOUS AS WELL. SUSPICIOUS AS WELL. >> THAT’S JUST A MARKER AND THEY >> THAT’S JUST A MARKER AND THEY CONFUSE THE REAL VAPE FOR CONFUSE THE REAL VAPE FOR REGULAR ITEMS. REGULAR ITEMS. >> WHAT DID YOU THINK THIS WAS? >> WHAT DID YOU THINK THIS WAS? >> DIDN’T THINK TO LOOK AT THAT, >> DIDN’T THINK TO LOOK AT THAT, A MARKET, ERASER OR HIGHLIGHTER.

A MARKET, ERASER OR HIGHLIGHTER. >> THE MOST ANY OF OUR >> THE MOST ANY OF OUR VOLUNTEERS SPOTTED, JUST FIVE OF VOLUNTEERS SPOTTED, JUST FIVE OF THE 14 ITEMS WE HID. THE 14 ITEMS WE HID. THAT’S 36%, A FAILING GRADE. THAT’S 36%, A FAILING GRADE.

>> IT’S VERY, VERY SCARY. >> IT’S VERY, VERY SCARY. >> Reporter: AN EYE OPENING >> Reporter: AN EYE OPENING EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH TEACHERS AND EXPERIENCE FOR BOTH TEACHERS AND PARENTS. PARENTS. >> IF YOU HAVE TO HIDE >> IF YOU HAVE TO HIDE SOMETHING, THEN THERE’S SOMETHING, THEN THERE’S SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT.

SOMETHING WRONG WITH IT. >> SCARY TO SEE HOW EASILY THEY >> SCARY TO SEE HOW EASILY THEY CAN HIDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. CAN HIDE SOMETHING LIKE THAT. >> PARENTS NEED TO BE MORE >> PARENTS NEED TO BE MORE INVASIVE IN THEIR KIDS SPACES INVASIVE IN THEIR KIDS SPACES AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED. AND ACTIVELY ENGAGED.

>> Reporter: WE REACHED OUT TO >> Reporter: WE REACHED OUT TO THE VAPOR TECHNOLOGY SITUATION, THE VAPOR TECHNOLOGY SITUATION, THEY DON’T APPROVE OF THESE THEY DON’T APPROVE OF THESE TYPES OF DEVICES, WORKING TO TYPES OF DEVICES, WORKING TO BRING THE AGE TO 21. BRING THE AGE TO 21. I BROUGHT THESE ITEMS. I BROUGHT THESE ITEMS. THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE A MARKER, THIS ONE LOOKS LIKE A MARKER, AND THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE WOULD AND THAT’S WHAT PEOPLE WOULD MISTAKE IT FOR.

MISTAKE IT FOR. THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHTERS WE WERE THIS IS THE HIGHLIGHTERS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT, HODA. TALKING ABOUT, HODA. AND AS YOU KNOW -- AND AS YOU KNOW -- >> SHOW THAT WATCH, THAT’S >> SHOW THAT WATCH, THAT’S CRAZY. CRAZY.

>> YOU POP IT OUT RIGHT HERE. >> YOU POP IT OUT RIGHT HERE. AND IT TELLS THE TIME. AND IT TELLS THE TIME. SO YOU CAN EASILY SEE THAT -- SO YOU CAN EASILY SEE THAT -- >> UH-HUH.

>> UH-HUH. >> THERE’S A DIGITAL READOUT. >> THERE’S A DIGITAL READOUT. >> RIGHT. >> RIGHT.

THIS IS CRAZY, THE HOODIE. THIS IS CRAZY, THE HOODIE. >> NOBODY GOT THE HOODIE. >> NOBODY GOT THE HOODIE. >> CRAIG, I’LL RETURN YOUR >> CRAIG, I’LL RETURN YOUR HOODIE LATER.

HOODIE LATER. >> IT’S INSANE. >> IT’S INSANE. IT’S LIKE A VAPING THING IN IT’S LIKE A VAPING THING IN HERE. HERE.

>> BUT IF YOU’RE A TECHER IN >> BUT IF YOU’RE A TECHER IN CLASS WOULDN’T YOU SEE A KID CLASS WOULDN’T YOU SEE A KID WHO’S LIKE -- EVEN IF THEY’RE -- WHO’S LIKE -- EVEN IF THEY’RE -- >> YOU WOULD THINK SO BUT THEY >> YOU WOULD THINK SO BUT THEY BREAK OFF INTO STUDY GROUPS. BREAK OFF INTO STUDY GROUPS. THAT’S WHAT TEACHERS ARE TELLING THAT’S WHAT TEACHERS ARE TELLING US. US. YOU’RE DEALING WITH 30 KIDS AT A YOU’RE DEALING WITH 30 KIDS AT A TIME.

TIME. IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER AND IT MAKES IT SO MUCH EASIER AND WHEN YOU HAVE A TINY PEN LIKE WHEN YOU HAVE A TINY PEN LIKE THIS YOU CAN DO YOUR HOMEWORK THIS YOU CAN DO YOUR HOMEWORK WITH. WITH. >> IT’S CRAZY. >> IT’S CRAZY.

>> A REAL BIG CHALLENGE FOR >> A REAL BIG CHALLENGE FOR TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND TALKING TEACHERS AND PARENTS AND TALKING ABOUT ANTI-TOBACCO CAMPAIGNS, ABOUT ANTI-TOBACCO CAMPAIGNS, CHECK IF YOUR DISTRICT HAS ONE CHECK IF YOUR DISTRICT HAS ONE LIKE THE ONE WE WERE AT.

Source : TODAY