Insight Alliance spreads awareness for World No Tobacco Day

Vapes disguised as highlighters and smart watches are raising new concerns among local tobacco prevention advocates ahead of World No Tobacco Day. World No Tobacco Day is observed annually on May 31 and was established by the World Health Organization to raise awareness about the dangers of tobacco use and nicotine addiction. In Washington County, Insight Alliance, a community-based non-profit coalition dedicated to substance use prevention, is using the observance to continue conversations surrounding youth vaping and tobacco use prevention. According to Insight Alliance Executive Director Jennifer Berven, national youth nicotine vape use has slightly decreased to 5.2% among middle and high schoolers, while nicotine pouch use is at 1.7%, based on FDA data. Regionally, Berven said tobacco use rates among youth are approximately 4.3%. "Some people say, 'Why are you still talking about vaping rates if the numbers are the lowest they've ever been?'" Berven said. "But even if it's a small percentage, if there's one kid in Washington County who is smoking or using nicotine in any form, we don't want that. We want our kids to be nicotine- and tobacco-free." E-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are battery-operated devices that heat a liquid and produce an aerosol, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC reported that in 2024 e-cigarettes were the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students in the United States. Insight Alliance Prevention Grant Coordinator Gina Bunting said misconceptions surrounding vaping remain common among teens and young adults. "They perceive it as low harm," Bunting said. "Our Tennessee Together Student Survey reflected that 26.5% of youth believe vaping nicotine has little to no risk at all, and 16.6% believed smoking a pack a day was little to no risk, which is very concerning." No tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, are safe. Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and is a health danger, especially for youth, according to the CDC. Aerosol from e-cigarettes can also contain harmful substances, including cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals. Bunting said vaping devices have evolved to become easier for students to conceal at school and at home. "The vapes are changing, and they're getting smaller and easier to hide," she said. "I recently saw one that looked exactly like a highlighter. Now they even have them in smart watch forms where part of the watch pops off and turns into a vape." Despite slightly declining usage rates, Bunting said accessibility remains a huge concern. "Around 50.9% of youth said tobacco products are fairly or very easy to access," she said. Local educators are also seeing behavioral and mental health concerns tied to nicotine use, according to Bunting. "The students they work with are showing signs of anxiety," she said. "You also see disciplinary issues connected with that." Bunting said nicotine use can have lasting impacts on adolescents because the brain continues developing into early adulthood. "It impacts brain development and mental health," she said. "You see anxiety, mood changes, difficulty concentrating and trouble paying attention and learning." Berven added that misinformation surrounding vaping products can sometimes overshadow factual prevention efforts, especially for youth. "With prevention, scare tactics don't work — facts work," Berven said. "Being honest and letting people know where the risks are is what actually helps." Berven said some vape products may contain harmful substances beyond nicotine. The CDC notes heavy metals such as nickel, lead and tin could be included in e-cigarettes as well as cancer-causing chemicals and tiny particles that can be inhaled deep into the lung. In some instances, Berven said there is a possibility vapes could be laced, though it is not as common as other substances. "The thing is, even without anything being altered, smoking or vaping nicotine products is dangerous for the health and development of young people," she said. Ahead of World No Tobacco Day, Insight Alliance plans to share prevention messaging through social media to continue educating families about nicotine addiction and youth vaping risks.