"Everyone vapes." That’s what two teens told me separately within the same week. While "everyone" might be an exaggeration, the numbers are troubling. In 2023, 10% of high school students and 4.6% of middle schoolers reported using e-cigarettes.
Vaping is harmful: Beyond nicotine's well-known harms—disrupting appetite, memory, and attention, and increasing the risk of using other substances later in life—vaping also exposes adolescents to toxic chemicals that can worsen asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory irritation.
Research: A randomized control study recently published in JAMA found that a text-message program was effective at helping teens quit vaping. The program studied was developed by the Truth Initiative’s anti-tobacco campaign. It is a free, interactive digital program tailored specifically for teens and young adults. The program adapts based on the user’s age, enrollment date or quit date, and even their vape brand.
A Program To Share: The text messages that subscribers receive emphasize the risks of vaping, the benefits of quitting, and provide exercises to build coping skills and self-confidence. Teens will receive encouragement, mindfulness training, breathing exercises, and information about resources like the Crisis Text Line. It's an effective tool for empowering youth to overcome vaping addiction and one that I recommend sharing.
