CATCH My Breath
CUPHD's Health Educator 1,
Program Overview: CATCH My Breath is an evidence-based youth nicotine vaping prevention program that will provide youth with the skills to resist peer pressure and media influences to try e-cigarettes.
Program Structure: The CATCH My Breath Program (grades 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12) consists of 4 unique lessons for each grade group and are about 35 minutes each.
Intended Outcomes:
- Resist their own curiosity, peer and advertising pressure to experiment with e-cigarettes
- Understand that e-cigarettes are addictive, unhealthy, and not as popular as they think
- Influence friends and peers not to use e-cigarettes 1
Parent and Community Resources
It is important to that parents, caregivers, and community members stay informed when it comes to youth education and tobacco prevention. There are several resources available to parents, caregivers, and community members regarding the CATCH My Breath program and general knowledge about the youth vaping epidemic. 2
Access the CATCH My Breath Parent Toolkit. 3
School Tobacco Use Codes
According to the National Youth Tobacco Survey from 2019 and 2020, e-cigarette products are the most used form of tobacco among youth in the United States. These products contain nicotine, which can be addicting and is especially harmful on the developing adolescent brain. Therefore, it is crucial that schools have a tobacco use code in place where enforcement of the policy includes educational and behavioral components. Research has shown that punitive measures can contribute to negative educational and life outcomes and do not help the student to quit using the product.
- When enforcing tobacco policy violations, the root cause of the problem- an addiction to nicotine in e-cigarettes- must be addressed. This can be accomplished by providing students with educational support and tobacco cessation resources.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) shares that tobacco cessation is a process and outside supports are critical. Pediatric health clinicians can link youth to appropriate behavioral support and in moderate to severe cases prescribe pharmacologic support. 6
- The Public Health Law Center has a model policy for schools that can serve as a guide (this is specific to Minnesota, but can be modified for local school districts)6
- The American Lung Association has two programs that we recommend schools utilize:
- INDEPTH : Free, educational program available to schools or other community organizations. It is intended to serve as an alternative to punitive measures.
- N-O-T (Not on Tobacco) : Evidence-based teen smoking and vaping cessation program.
