Help Your 5th-9th Grader Be Tobacco and Nicotine Free
Tobacco use is the leading preventable cause of death in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).4 You may have already begun talking with your youngster about not using tobacco or nicotine products, including e-cigarettes/vapes, smokeless tobacco and nicotine pouches. Keep talking! Your child is at greater risk now in middle school and as they enter high school. Almost 90 percent of adult daily smokers started smoking by the age of 18.5
Talking to your children about the harms of nicotine and vaping is just as important. E-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes, are now the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. middle and high school students. In 2022, about 1 in 10 U.S. middle and high school students had reported using e-cigarettes at least once in the past 30 days, including 3.3% of middle school students and 14.1% of high school students.6
This booklet, “E-Cigarettes, E-Hookahs, Hookah Pens, Vape Pipes: Different Name, Same Problem” outlines the differences between regular cigarettes and e-cigarettes and discusses the health impacts of nicotine as a substance separate from tobacco.
If you’re the young person’s parent and a smoker, or you vape or use smokeless tobacco, he or she has a higher chance of using those products too. Now could be a great time to quit—it could help you and your youngster.
Talking About Tobacco and Nicotine: Why It’s Important
Young people are more likely to be tobacco and nicotine free if they know their parents don’t want them using tobacco and nicotine products - and would be disappointed if they did. This is true even if their parents use tobacco or nicotine. Other adult family members play an important role, especially those who regularly provide care and guidance for the young person.
