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
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