Emerging, Hot Topic: Tobacco Prevention Toolkit Primary Prevention for Pod-Style Vape Use Among Youth

Introduction: With the proliferation of new tobacco products, it is critical to develop and evaluate new prevention programs. The Tobacco Prevention Toolkit (tobaccopreventiontoolkit.stanford.edu), an online and free theory- and evidence-based curriculum aimed at preventing middle and high school students’ use of tobacco products, includes a special focus on electronic cigarettes and especially the new pod-based products such as Juul as well as a module on the adolescent brain and nicotine addiction. The Toolkit contains information, slide presentations, worksheets, activities, and fun quizzes on the history of and trends in tobacco use, immediate and long-term health risks of tobacco, effects of nicotine on the brain, the appeal of tobacco, risks and potential harms of tobacco products, and ways to resist using tobacco. Educators and parents also have resources and information.

Methods: The Toolkit has been evaluated for reach, feasibility, and effects on changing youth knowledge, attitudes and behaviors. Data are being collected through google analytics, pre- and post-program surveys, and a randomized controlled trial.

Preliminary Results: Google analytics show that we have reached schools and youth across the country, with schools in every US state using the Toolkit, reaching over 250,000 youth in the past year. Thus far, five high schools completed both pre (n=375) and post (n=330). This module is included in the curriculum to be evaluated herein. The proportion reporting perceived risk for harming themselves, physically or in other ways, by using e-cigarettes or other vapor-emitting devices increased by 2.1% and 2.5% for cigarettes. The percentage of students reporting knowledge of health effects of tobacco use increased by 32.8% (from 50.9% to 67.6%) and knowledge of environmental effects of tobacco use increased by 15% (from 67.2% to 77.3%). Following education from the Toolkit, students’ recognition of the addictive properties of e-cigarettes significantly increased.

Conclusions: Preliminary evidence suggests the Toolkit has an outstanding reach, and is effective in changing high school students’ knowledge of, attitudes towards, and current use of pod-style vapes and other tobacco products.