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Oct 16, 2023

The Mid-Shore still has a Youth Tobacco Problem


According to the latest available data from the 2021-2022 school year, over 1 in 4 high school students within the five county mid-shore region are current tobacco users. This epidemic is largely driven by the use of electronic smoking devices, e-cigs, or vapes ,which have been heavily marketed to teens.


National data show that among all youth who currently used e-cigarettes, 42.3% used them on 20 or more of the past 30 days, with nearly half (46%) of high schoolers who vape doing so near daily, putting them on a trajectory for a potential lifetime of nicotine addiction and at increased risk for addiction to other substances.




The Mid Shore Health Improvement Coalition's Tobacco and Cancer Workgroup is on a mission to turn things around. Stakeholders representing local health departments, Choptank Community Health System, University of Maryland Shore Regional Health, schools, businesses, and community and faith-based groups are working together to make sure communities know about and get connected to available resources. Learn how to get involved in the workgroup.


 

Get Help with Quitting

Local Health Departments

Services range from in-person cessation services, community-based mini-grants, and education to schools, businesses and other groups.

 

Resources for Teens:



This site is designed to help youth understand the decisions they make — especially the decision to quit smoking — and how those decisions fit into their life. “Your Life. Your Health. Your Call.” The site is run by the National Cancer Institute.


Download quitSTART | Smokefree Teen The quitSTART app is a free smartphone app that helps you quit smoking with tailored tips, inspiration, and challenges. Available on Apple Store and Google Play.


Truth Initiative has a free text message program to give young people, as well as their parents, the support they need. Access the program by texting DITCHVAPE to 88709 or by enrolling in the free, digital quit programs, This is Quitting or BecomeAnEX, which integrate the text program.


MDQuit Line to assist in tobacco/ nicotine cessation, available 24/7. Includes youth quit coaches for youth ages 13-17. Call toll free at 1-800-QUIT-NOW


The Foundation For A Smokefree America: Motivating youth to stay tobacco free and empowering smokers to quit.


This Free Life is a campaign that works to prevent and reduce tobacco use among young adults who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT).


Resources for Parents:


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