West Virginia Launches Anti-Vaping Campaign in Schools
CHARLESTON, WV () — The West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources' Bureau for Public Health and West Virginia Department of Education have joined forces to kick-start an anti-vaping campaign throughout the state's schools. Governor Jim Justice has decreed that the campaign, known as "Don't Let Vaping Cloud It," will run for the next three years.
The aim of the campaign is to educate students about the dangers of vaping and to prevent them from falling into the vaping trap. The evidence presented during the campaign will highlight the harmful effects of vaping and will be paired with a vaping prevention program called "CATCH My Breath."
Governor Justice expressed his concerns about the widespread issue of vaping, stating, "Vaping is a huge problem all over the country, and now we're setting out to actively educate our students about the extreme dangers associated with e-cigarettes. Our goal is to educate our students early and prevent them from falling into this dangerous vaping trap."
According to Dr. Matthew Christiansen, State Health Officer and Commissioner for DHHR's Bureau for Public Health, e-cigarette use is a significant problem among West Virginia youth, with approximately half of all high school students reporting using e-cigarettes in 2021. The "CATCH My Breath" curriculum has been shown to effectively increase knowledge of the dangers of e-cigarettes and reduce nicotine vaping and overall tobacco use among students.
The campaign will focus primarily on middle school students as data suggests that vape usage typically starts at the age of 14. State Superintendent of Schools, Michele L. Blatt, emphasized the need to address the issue of vaping among students, stating, "E-cigarette use in West Virginia schools can have profound impacts on the future of young people. Together with our partners, including school teachers and counselors, we aim to decrease vaping among our students and empower them to make informed decisions so they can lead healthier lives."
To support the implementation of the program, teachers, counselors, and other school staff who participate will be offered free classes to effectively teach students about vape prevention.
For more information about the "CATCH My Breath" program, visit https://catch.org/program/vaping-prevention/.
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