At a glance
The Empower Vape-Free YouthTM campaign encourages middle and high school educators to speak with students about the risks of e-cigarettes and nicotine addiction. The campaign includes resources for educators to help students avoid or quit vaping.
Educators’ role in helping reduce student vaping
E-cigarettes (also called vapes) have been the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth since 2014. Educators can make a real difference by engaging in meaningful conversations with their students about the dangers of vaping for young people and ways to quit.
CDC launched the Empower Vape-Free YouthTM campaign in 2023 to encourage middle and high school educators to speak with students about the risks of e-cigarettes and nicotine addiction. The campaign also provides resources for educators to help students avoid or quit vaping.
Campaign materials for educators
Visit CDC’s Media Campaign Resource Center to request digital files of campaign materials, including print resources, videos, and social media assets.
Videos: Information on youth vaping, quitting, and encouraging healthy coping skills
(All videos are less than 2 minutes long)
Videos: Starting a dialogue with students about vaping
Quit resources for youth
- Smokefree Teen is a website from the National Cancer Institute with information, tips, tools, and live web-based support for teens interested in quitting tobacco use.
- SmokefreeTXT for Teens is a text-based program from the National Cancer Institute to help young people quit tobacco use.
- 1-800-QUIT-NOW connects teens to their state quitline where they can get free and confidential support from a quit coach and get connected to additional resources. Learn more at CDC.gov/Quitline.
Educator resources
- Vaping Prevention and Education Resource Center | FDA
- Schools Supporting Students to Quit Tobacco Use as an Alternative to Suspension | CDC
- This CDC resource informs educators on e-cigarette use among youth and provides alternatives to suspension for students who violate a school's tobacco-free policy.
- This CDC resource informs educators on e-cigarette use among youth and provides alternatives to suspension for students who violate a school's tobacco-free policy.
- Youth Vaping Prevention & Resources to Quit | Truth Initiative
- This self-led, interactive curriculum provided by the Truth Initiative® encourages youth to live vape-free lives.
- This self-led, interactive curriculum provided by the Truth Initiative® encourages youth to live vape-free lives.
- NOT for Me | American Lung Association
- This cessation program from the American Lung Association is designed to help youth ages 14 to 19 quit e-cigarettes. The program consists of 10 sessions to be delivered in a small group format. Youth can access a mobile-friendly online version.
- This cessation program from the American Lung Association is designed to help youth ages 14 to 19 quit e-cigarettes. The program consists of 10 sessions to be delivered in a small group format. Youth can access a mobile-friendly online version.
- Stanford University Tobacco Prevention Toolkit