This content is sponsored by NASN Strategic Sponsor UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights.
As the calendar flips to January, conversations about New Year’s resolutions fill classrooms and hallways. For students who vape, this season presents a life-changing opportunity to quit and embrace a fresh start. Last year, more than two-thirds of middle and high school students who vape reported trying to quit. As trusted health professionals, school nurses are uniquely positioned to guide students toward healthier choices and help them turn their resolutions into reality.
The State of Youth Vaping
In 2019, at the height of the youth vaping epidemic, 27.5% of high school students and 10.5% of middle school students reported using e-cigarettes, commonly known as vapes (Wang et al., 2019). By 2024, those numbers dropped to 7.8% and 3.5%, an encouraging sign of progress, but vaping among youth remains a serious concern (Jamal et al., 2024). Some begin as early as elementary school, and studies show usage is becoming more frequent.
Misconceptions about safety, combined with other factors like peer influence and targeted marketing, continue to fuel this persistent issue. Many young people see vaping as a safer alternative to traditional cigarettes, making quitting seem less urgent. In reality, vaping can lead to nicotine addiction, especially in developing brains, and poses serious health risks for both users and those around them.
Health Risks for Vape Users and Those Around Them
Every vape cloud contains a complex mix of heavy metals, ultrafine particles, and hazardous chemicals like formaldehyde that can harm multiple systems in the body.
- Respiratory health: Vaping can exacerbate and increase the risk for conditions like asthma and chronic bronchitis, and even cause lung injuries. Over time, it reduces lung function, making it harder for students to stay active.
- Heart health: Chemicals in vape emissions can raise blood pressure and heart rate, increasing stress on the cardiovascular system. This may raise the risk of heart problems later in life.
- Kidney health: Research suggests vaping may contribute to oxidative stress and inflammation, which can impair kidney function.
- Oral health: Vaping can cause gum inflammation, bleeding, and disease, and may even lead to cracked or loosened teeth.
- Behavioral and psychological effects: Nicotine impacts brain development during adolescence, affecting attention, memory, and impulse control. Students who vape may find it harder to focus in class and more difficult to quit as they grow older.
Vaping doesn’t just harm the person using the device. Vaping emissions and its components can linger in the air for others to inhale or they can settle on surfaces, where they may be absorbed through the skin or ingested through hand-to-mouth behaviors like nail-biting.
How School Nurses Can Help
As accessible healthcare professionals in educational settings, school nurses are well positioned to help students make informed health decisions. Your role can be the difference between a student continuing to vape or choosing a healthier path. Here are practical ways you can make a meaningful difference:
- Evidence-based health education: Combat misconceptions by sharing clear, accurate information about vaping risks during health classes, assemblies, and parent meetings. Explore expert research and insights to support your messaging such as:
- Share educational resources: Display and provide engaging, age-appropriate materials to help students connect with the message and normalize quitting. Consider using handouts and visuals such as:
- Illustrative booklet, “Behind the Cloud: The Hidden Risks of Vaping.” [English/Spanish]
- Comic book, “Understanding the Risks of Vaping.” [English/Spanish]
- Infographic, “What’s really in that vape cloud?” [English/Spanish]
- Identify and intervene early: If a student visits your office and you suspect vaping, start a conversation with empathy and curiosity rather than judgement. Creating a safe, non-critical dialogue can help students feel safe and understood. Seek advice from a licensed mental health professional on how to best navigate these discussions. Offer tools like helplines, mobile apps, and programs focused on harm reduction and quitting. Talk to the student’s parents and recommend they follow up with their child’s pediatrician.
- Create support systems: Quitting is easier with encouragement. Organize peer support groups where students can share experiences and motivate each other. Collaborate with school counselors to address underlying issues such as anxiety and peer pressure.
- Advocate for policy: Ensure your school’s tobacco-free policy includes vaping products. Promote responses that emphasize education and support rather than punishment.
- Follow up: Check in regularly with students who express interest in quitting. Celebrate small wins, like reducing usage or going a week without vaping, to keep their motivation up.
A Fresh Start for Students
Quitting vaping is one of the most transformative goals a student can set for a healthier new year. As a school nurse, your guidance and support are vital to help students overcome challenges and stay committed to their resolutions. Make 2026 the year more students say goodbye to vaping for good.
References
Jamal A, Park-Lee E, Birdsey J, et al. Tobacco Product Use Among Middle and High School Students — National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2024. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2024;73:917–924. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm7341a2
Wang TW, Gentzke AS, Creamer MR, et al. Tobacco Product Use and Associated Factors Among Middle and High School Students — United States, 2019. MMWR Surveill Summ 2019;68(No. SS-12):1–22. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.ss6812a1