Keep Up the Good Work, New Hampshire: Vaping Prevention in the 603

Guest Author: Nancy Vaughan

Thanks to the dedication of parents, educators, healthcare professionals, and community leaders, New Hampshire is seeing encouraging signs of progress in reducing youth vaping. Parents are having open conversations with their kids about the risks of vaping, schools are providing honest, fact-based education, and communities are advocating for smart policies. Together, these efforts are making a real difference.

Schools across the state have stepped up in big ways too – teaching students how to spot manipulative marketing, understand the health risks of vaping, and build the skills to say no. They’re also creating more supportive environments, prioritizing connection and guidance over punishment. Meanwhile, community groups have championed prevention programs, pushed for sensible retail policies near schools, and ensured that funding collected from the tobacco settlement and taxes are used wisely.

The results? Youth vaping rates are trending in the right direction. But our work isn’t done yet.

As New Hampshire navigates a difficult budget season, it’s crucial to remember that prevention isn’t a cost—it’s an investment. Every dollar we put into preventing youth tobacco use saves lives and spares the state from bearing the enormous financial burden of tobacco-related disease down the road. With Medicaid costs tied to tobacco use already nearing $150 million annually, New Hampshire can’t afford not to prioritize prevention.

Learn more about vaping prevention and how you can get involved:

American Heart Association – NH

The Partnership @drugfreeNH: Vaping prevention resources

QuitNow-NH: Free health education, coaching and medications to support quitting

My Life, My Quit: Free and confidential support for youth to quit any form of nicotine use

QuitWorks-NH: Vaping prevention toolkit, videos and eLearning modules for professionals

Together, we can continue to protect the health and well-being of New Hampshire’s youth. Let’s keep up the good work!

Nancy Vaughan

This blog was authored by Nancy Vaughan, Government Relations Director of the American Heart Association, a member of the Tobacco Free NH Network, a statewide network of individuals and organizations working together to reduce death and disability from tobacco use in New Hampshire. Nancy is the Government Relations Director for the American Heart Association in New Hampshire and a member of the Tobacco Free Network. She advocates for public health policies at the state and local levels. As a 36-year veteran with the American Heart Association, Nancy has held roles in fundraising, health alliances, and public policy. Her work has helped pass key initiatives including Smokefree Restaurants & Bars, Tobacco21, numerous healthcare access improvements, and installing water bottle filling stations in public schools.

If you are interested in joining the TFN, reach out to Emily McMaster, emily_mcmaster@jsi.com. The TFN is composed of public health and health professionals, health educators, communicators and advocates, school personnel, and policy leaders. They meet every-other-month meeting.