The Do’s and Don’ts of Preventing Teen Vaping

In 2024, 13% of Missouri high school students reported vaping in the past 30 days. Additionally, 68% of high school students didn’t think vaping came with a risk. Changing these responses can start with educators in the school. So, how can you give your students anti-vaping messaging that works? 

There is little research on which prevention methods are effective when it comes to teen vaping. Limited studies have been conducted on this topic, but what has been found can shape how we talk about vaping and substance use with teens. 

What works? You likely won’t be surprised that emphasizing the consequences of vaping is effective. Tell students that vaping can result in nicotine addiction, lung and brain damage, and numerous harmful chemicals entering their bodies. Use negative imagery to help stress your message, including images with warning signs and those that compare vapes to cigarettes.  

What doesn’t work? The answer to this question is perhaps the most important, as you may find it counterintuitive. Some educators may want to be creative by using memes, hashtags, and other teen trends to deliver their message. However, these have been found to be ineffective. Also avoid talking about environmental impact and even sharing statistics. Teens rating anti-vaping advertisements reported these to have little impact on their stance on vaping. Most importantly, messages and images that acknowledge the variety of colors and flavors that vapes come in actually increase teen vaping. Reminding teens of the appealing aspects of substances only increases their curiosity and supports their use of said substances. 

Prevent teen substance use by sharing your message effectively. Make vaping and substance use a common topic in your classroom and be clear about your negative stance on it. Teens need to understand that the harms of vaping are serious and not worth the risk. Be direct about your message rather than using teen trends or statistics to help present your information, but don’t mistake this with using scare tactics. Anti-vaping messages should be shared in the form of meaningful discussions rather than harsh warnings. By sharing the facts and starting conversations, you can make a difference in the lives of your students.