WYOMING — In the upcoming year, the Wyoming Department of Health (WDH) plans to distribute a new tobacco/nicotine-free educational campaign directed towards youth attending schools throughout Wyoming.
According to a 2022 WDH survey, roughly one in four Wyoming high school students are current electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) or vape users.
“We have had campaigns on this subject directed toward youth and young adults in the past and are planning another effort for within the next year,” the WDH told Buckrail.
WDH staff, in partnership with the Wyoming Cancer Coalition Prevention Workgroup, the Wyoming Tobacco Prevention and Control Program and local Wyoming community prevention specialists, supplies schools and educators with its Wyoming Nicotine-Free School Toolkit to use as an education guide. The toolkit outlines how to implement a school policy to ensure a safe learning and work environment free of commercial tobacco and nicotine products.
According to the toolkit, the percentage of youth smoking cigarettes or using smokeless tobacco has declined to historically low rates, while the percentage of youth who report vaping has increased rapidly in recent years. Vaping is now the most commonly reported method of substance use by Wyoming youth. A higher percentage of youth report vaping more than using any other substance, including alcohol, marijuana and other illicit drugs.
The WDH says that vaping among Wyoming’s youth has increased because there is a lower perception of harm from vaping versus cigarette use. The percentage of youth who think there is no risk from cigarettes is 6%, while 10% of youth perceive that there’s no risk from vaping.
The Nicotine-Free School Toolkit highlights actions that have been shown to help prevent and reduce youth nicotine product use:
- Provide alternatives to traditional punishment. Offer youth educational resources instead of the traditional punishment of suspension or explosion.
- Disseminate appropriate signage posted throughout school entrances, and other highly visible locations, to indicate that the district requires an environment free of commercial tobacco and nicotine.
- Offer community programs and school policies which encourage a nicotine-free environment and lifestyle
