Called Tobacco Tracker, the tool aims to raise awareness and facilitate tobacco use reporting with the aim of reducing nicotine-addiction related problems. Campus-wide surveys were administered to current students, faculty and staff at two California public universities with STF policies in place, with the aim of analyzing the effectivity of the tool.
The compiled data indicated positive results. “In campus surveys, awareness of a tobacco reporting tool doubled , use of an online reporting tool tripled , and readiness to enforce the policy increased (p = .0008). ISA engagement did not change (p = .72). In Tobacco Tracker campus reports (N = 1163), active tobacco use was reported more frequently than tobacco-related litter,” reported the research team.
Meanwhile, together with Heart Ball and White, Greer & Maggard Orthodontics, the Central Kentucky American Heart Association launched a social media campaign which encourages adolescents to dispose of their e-cigarettes at any of the White, Greer & Maggard Orthodontics 20 locations, with the goal of collecting a total of 500 devices.
“While vaping might seem safer than smoking cigarettes, the nicotine in vape pods can cause an increase in blood pressure and heart rate, and a narrowing of the arteries, as well as irritability, mood swings, anxiety, impulsivity and learning difficulties. That is why White, Greer & Maggard Orthodontics is working alongside the American Heart Association to educate people throughout Central Kentucky on the harmful effects of vaping,” said Dr. Stan Ferguson of White, Greer & Maggard Orthodontics.
Quit vaping campaigns
The AHA has also recently launched a youth-driven Tobacco Endgame site which also features the personal experiences of young vapers but also gives teens the opportunity to connect directly with policymakers and learn how they can create healthier communities by taking charge and speaking up.
Meanwhile, the American Lung Association (ALA) has launched a similar campaign with the aim of offering a more productive alternative than school suspensions for students caught vaping on campus.
Amongst the Vape-Free Schools Initiative’s goals, is providing educators with more effective strategies than suspensions in handling teens caught vaping in schools. “The reason we want an alternative to suspension program is because if you suspend kids for using a very addictive substance, then they are more likely to stay home and vape and they’re missing out on educational opportunities,” says Ellen Penrod, Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Colorado, where high school tobacco use rates are at 28%.
Amongst the Vape-Free Schools Initiative’s goals, is providing educators with more effective strategies than suspensions in handling teens caught vaping in schools. “The reason we want an alternative to suspension program is because if you suspend kids for using a very addictive substance, then they are more likely to stay home and vape and they’re missing out on educational opportunities,” says Ellen Penrod, Executive Director of the American Lung Association in Colorado, where high school tobacco use rates are at 28%.
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