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In our fight to end youth and young adult nicotine addiction, we focus on the issues that matter most. We constantly monitor the latest topics and trends in commercial tobacco and substance use.

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Who we are

At Truth Initiative, we are committed to a future free from lifelong addiction, fostering healthier lives and a more resilient nation. We are the nation’s largest nonprofit public health organization dedicated to preventing youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empowering quitting for all.

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Research & resources

Get the latest facts and analyses on the most important issues related to smoking, vaping, nicotine and substance use.

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What we do

By driving behavior and policy change, we prevent addiction, increase quitting, reduce nicotine dependence, and expand cessation support and access. All backed by rigorous research and evaluation.

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Join us in preventing youth and young adult nicotine addiction and empowering quitting for all. Learn about how you can help create a future free from nicotine addiction through activism, scholarships, studies, and more. Let’s work together.

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Youth Vaping Prevention & Resources to Quit

To educate America’s students about the dangers of e-cigarette use and reverse the pervasive youth vaping public health crisis, Truth Initiative provides a national youth vaping prevention curriculum called Vaping: Know the truth. This free digital learning experience is made available to schools by EVERFI® from Blackbaud®, the leader in social impact education.

In addition to encouraging students to live vape-free lives, this self-led interactive curriculum offers quitting resources to help young people who are currently vaping through our free and anonymous text messaging program, now part of EX Program. An evaluation of the program found that enrolled teens were 35% more likely to report not using nicotine after seven months.

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In Vaping: Know the truth students will learn to:

  • Recognize the physiological and psychological properties of nicotine and cannabis
  • Recognize the health risks associated with vaping (nicotine, cannabis, and co-use) due to their chemical ingredients and delivery mechanism
  • Recognize that they are empowered to make healthy and informed choices, and to help others make those choices
  • And much more! Download Course Overview

Course Topics:

Lesson One: Know
Lesson One
Know
This lesson introduces learners to the activity of vaping, invites them to reflect on their awareness and knowledge of the topic, covers a brief history of tobacco and nicotine use, and covers the ingredients present in common e-cigarettes.
Lesson Two: Uncover
Lesson Two
Uncover
This lesson confronts learners with the hard facts about e-cigarette companies’ marketing and advertising tactics, and debunks myths about the safety of vaping and its risks relative to smoking.
Lesson Three: Overcome
Lesson Three
Overcome
This lesson challenges learners to consider the dangers of nicotine addiction, reinforces addiction as a primary danger of vaping, and lays the framework for quitting.
Lesson Four: Change
Lesson Four
Change
This lesson examines positive social norms that sit opposite of vaping: self-care and quitting. It looks to refocus learners' energy on alternative behaviors while reinforcing the dangerous truths about vaping.
Lesson Five
Explore
This lesson prompts learners to explore the short- and long-term health effects, risks, and consequences of using cannabis, as well as co-use of nicotine and cannabis.
Lesson Six
Choose
This lesson equips learners with knowledge about why their peers may use cannabis. It enables learners to make healthy choices, and take better care of themselves.
Recommended Grade Levels:
8-12
Total Time
30-40
Minutes
Cost:
$0
Vaping: Know the truth is a new course created by Truth Initiative on vaping prevention and resources to quit, made available at no cost to students and teachers.

Additional Resources

made available through our teacher dashboard after signing up for the course

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