Montgomery County Health Department Promotes No Vape November

The Montgomery County Health Department is marking November as No Vape November, deploying local resources and state-distributed toolkits to address Tennessee’s youth vaping epidemic.

State and federal data underline the scope of the issue. A 2022 study conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated that more than 2.5 million middle and high school students across the country currently use electronic cigarettes. In Tennessee, nearly 1 in 5 high school students reported vaping within a recent 30-day period.

To combat these numbers, the Tennessee Department of Health has distributed No Vape November toolkits through the TNSTRONG program to local health departments across the state. County health officials are emphasizing peer advocacy as a central component of this outreach.

It’s extremely important to keep engaging with our youth to prevent them from using any form of nicotine products. Tobacco use is still one of the top causes of death in Tennessee, and this generation could put an end to that. It’s amazing to see the youth in our community serving as peer influencers and advocates for preventing tobacco and nicotine addiction.

That assessment comes from Joey Smith of the Montgomery County Health Department, who points to youth-led advocacy as a key driver for shifting local habits away from nicotine.

Residents interested in participating in No Vape November initiatives, obtaining toolkits, or learning more about local prevention resources can contact Montgomery County Health Department Health Educator Renee Bruens by phone at 931-453-1378 or via email at [email protected]. Additional information regarding state-level prevention efforts is available through the TNSTRONG program and the Tennessee Department of Health’s Tobacco Use and Prevention Control Program.