Youth Vaping Prevention Resources for Educators

Youth vaping is a challenging health issue facing schools in New Hampshire. It can disrupt learning, damage property, and divert resources away from education. To help you tackle this challenge in your school and community, we’ve created a suite of resources designed to effectively and compassionately respond.

Available Resources

Whether you are an administrator, educator, school nurse or counselor, check out these resources to see how you can make a difference.

eLearning Module: Youth Vaping Basics

The course provides key facts about the types of vaping products (e-cigarettes) currently available and the chemicals they contain, why youth are attracted to vaping, and the impacts of vaping on youth mental and physical health, including brain development. It is intended for school-based youth prevention professionals, including Student Assistant Program Counselors, school nurses, counselors, school resource officers, and other staff who regularly work with youth. Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) are available.

collection of vapes in a variety of brands and flavors

Community Vaping Prevention Toolkit

A collection of evidence-based strategies and resources to address youth vaping in your community including factsheets on safe disposal of vape devices, lists of prevention and intervention curriculums and downloadable bulletin board materials.

eLearning Module: Motivational Conversations With Youth

Learn how to keep the conversation focused on what’s important to youth while motivating behavior change. Continuing Education Credits (CEUs) are available.

trusted adult having a motivational conversation with a teen

Video: Focusing on Youth – One Conversation at a Time

Students from New Hampshire share the significant role that trusted adults play in their lives.

Video: Connection – Strong Relationships Prevent Substance Misuse

Real New Hampshire youth share what works to prevent problems with alcohol, tobacco and other substances and how to build developmental assets. Let’s hear what they have to say and how you can make an impact. Group discussion guide provided.

eLearning Module: Supportive Disciplinary Policies and Practices

Learn from experts and seasoned educators about the benefits of and methods for establishing supportive disciplinary policies and practices that strengthens connectedness and keeps kids in school.

Video: Offering Alternatives to Suspension: A Look at Getting Started

School professionals talk about what it takes to shift policy and practices from suspending students from school to offering alternative consequences for negative behaviors that prioritize time in school along with health education, relationships, and coping skills.

Promoting safe and supportive schools where young people have strong connections with adults is key to prevention and early intervention. A progressive or supportive discipline policy is also essential. Opportunities that educate youth, expand life skills, and address mental health and wellness lead to greater equity, better health, and academic achievement, all without compromising school safety.¹ Further, when it comes to behavior change, research shows exclusionary discipline policies can be harmful² and could make future misbehavior more likely.³

Here you’ll find learning opportunities with informative and impactful content on youth vaping, effective communication, and positive discipline designed to equip you with the knowledge, skills and confidence to address youth vaping. Each module was developed with input from youth prevention advocates and educators, based on the latest in prevention science and adolescence development. The resources are intended for school-based youth prevention professionals, including Student Assistant Program Coordinators, school nurses, counselors, school resource officers, and other staff who regularly work with youth. Continuing education credits are provided.

These resources align with protective factors known to help students and schools engage in positive healthy behaviors and avoid risky behaviors, such as:

To learn more about improving school climate and connectedness, check out the resources at the Partnership @drugfreeNH.

How These Resources Can Help You

By reviewing and engaging with these resources, you will:

Understand why youth are attracted to vaping.

Sharpen your ability to engage youth in supportive conversations about risky behaviors, leading to choices with fewer negative consequences.

Build capacity in your school community to adopt practices that reduce out-of-school suspensions and reduce vaping.

Citations

¹ Steiner RJ, Sheremenko G, Lesesne CA, Dittus P, Sieving RE, Ethier KA. Adolescent connectedness and adult health outcomes. Pediatrics. 2019;144(1). https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2018-3766

² Nese, R. N., et al. (2021). Moving away from disproportionate exclusionary discipline: Developing and utilizing a continuum of preventative and instructional supports. Preventing School Failure: Alternative Education for Children and Youth, 65(4), 301-311. https://doi.org/10.1080/1045988X.2021.1937019 ; Zeng, S., et al. (2019). Adverse childhood experiences and preschool suspension expulsion: A population study. Child Abuse & Neglect, 97, 104149. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chiabu.2019.104149

³ Fabelo, T., Thompson, M. D., Plotkin, M., Carmichael, D., Marchbanks, M. P., & Booth, E. A. (2011). Breaking schools’ rules. CSG Justice Center. https://csgjusticecenter.org/publications/breaking-schools-rules/