Keeping Teens Vape Free
According to the Food and Drug Administration, 5 million youth in the United States currently use e-cigarettes: 1 in 4 high school students (27.5%) and 1 in 10 middle school students (10.5%). Vaping increases a person’s chance of experiencing complications from upper respiratory illnesses and some researchers believe there exists a relationship between vaping and COVID-19 patients.
This summer, take time to talk to students about the importance of a healthy lifestyle. For help, turn to the no cost digital tools from Be Vape Free – a nationwide initiative providing standards-aligned e-cigarette prevention resources for educators teaching grades 5-12. Be Vape Free was created in partnership with the CVS Health Foundation, CATCH Global Foundation, and Discovery Education.
Kick off the conversation with the thought-provoking Clearing the Air Virtual Field Trip. The Be Vape Free Virtual Field Trip (VFT) provides young people and their families with the facts and science to make healthier decisions. As part of the VFT, students gain powerful insights from their peers sharing firsthand experiences of avoiding the dangers of e-cigarette use.
The on-demand VFT also features interviews with a marketing expert who can help young people think critically about influences such as advertising and social media. Students will learn effective refusal skills and debunk common vaping myths with first-hand insight from a leading health professional.
And bonus: The ability to watch on-demand means that viewers can access the engaging VFT anytime, anywhere.
At the core of the initiative and the Virtual Field Trip is the evidence-based CATCH My Breath vaping prevention program, developed by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health. The initiative ensures that everyone—students, parents, educators, and other community members—has access to no-cost, preventative resources to help educate and empower young people.
With the support of educators and all community members, the Be Vape Free initiative is on a mission to foster the first vape-free generation.
