The Louisiana Department of Health says youth vaping remains a critical public health crisis in the state, and it’s urging parents and teachers to talk to kids about the dangers of vaping. Taylor Reine, who oversees the division of chronic disease prevention at LDH, says kids need to know that vaping is no safer than smoking cigarettes.
“Nicotine, whether that’s from vapes or nicotine pouches or traditional cigarettes, permanently alters teens’ brain development, fuels mental health struggles and then primes the brain for lifelong addiction,” Reine explained.
According to the 2023 Louisiana Youth Tobacco Survey, 30% of high school students vape, making Louisiana the third highest state in the nation for high school vaping. In addition, the survey shows 18% of middle school students vape – nearly one out of every five. Reine says two factors which contribute to those high numbers are the marketing of vape products to teens and their ease of availability.
“We know that a majority of youth, about four in five, are reporting purchasing or accessing these products through gas stations and retail stores,” Reine noted.
Reine says there are resources available for teens who want to quit vaping.
“There is Live Vape Free, that serves all Louisiana youth ages 13-17, and it provides free and unlimited text-based counseling quit support,” Reine said.
Teens can enroll in Live Vape Free by texting “VAPEFREE” to 873373.
In addition, the following resources are available online:
Resources for youth
- Unfiltered Facts: This Louisiana youth prevention resource offers the education and tools necessary to empower youth to make informed health decisions about tobacco and nicotine.
Resources for parents
- Adult Advocate Program: Designed specifically for Louisiana families, this online module helps parents navigate conversations with teens about vaping and support through the quitting process.
- American Lung Association Vaping Conversation Guide: Evidence-based guidelines to support parents in initiating effective conversations with youth about vape use.
Resources for schools
- Vape-Free Schools Administrators Training: The online module guides school leaders in building vape-free campuses through clear policies, strong education standards, and accessible cessation support.
- Vape-Free Schools Toolkit: An online collection of resources designed to support K-12 Louisiana educators in integrating tobacco prevention education into their lessons.
Resources for health care providers
Youth Vape Use — Online Training for Health Care Providers: Health care providers learn best practice guidelines to screen, treat, and respond specifically to youth e-cigarette use. Providers will receive one hour of CME credits upon completion.
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