ADVERTISING
Give two examples of how vape packaging design targets the youth market
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- bright colors
-- animation like designs
-- bubble fonts
-- flavor names related to candy + cereal brands
-- small handheld design that mimics current technology (USB style design)
-- packaging designed to disguise vape -- ie: made to look like a highlighter, or chapstick
-- anything else?
What are 2 immediate health effects of vaping tobacco?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- shortness of breath
-- increased heart rate
-- dopamine boost
-- headaches
-- mood instability
-- increased anxiety
-- difficulty concentrating / focusing -- being distracted
-- anything else?
TRUE or FALSE:
Erie County has a smoke-free policy that bans smoking + vaping in ALL county parks.
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
Answer: TRUE
WHY:
-- cigarette butts are the #1 littered item in the world! 1.69 BILLION pounds per year
-- eliminates + reduces second-hand smoke exposure
-- keeping kids safe; normalizing tobacco-free living
Tobacco Free Erie + Niagara has the details here: https://caiglobal.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Tobacco-free-outdoor-handout.pdf
TRUE or FALSE:
Cannabis (THC) is a psycho-active substance.
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
TRUE.
According to the U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA):
THC (delta9-tetrahydrocannabinol) is believed to be the main ingredient that produces the psychoactive effect. Including but not limited to:
• Dizziness, nausea, tachycardia, facial flushing, dry mouth, and tremor
• Merriment, happiness, and even exhilaration at high doses
• Disinhibition, relaxation, increased sociability, and talkativeness
• Enhanced sensory perception, giving rise to increased appreciation of music, art, and touch
• Heightened imagination leading to a subjective sense of increased creativity
• Time distortions
• Illusions, delusions, and hallucinations are rare except at high doses
• Impaired judgment, reduced coordination, and ataxia, which can impede driving ability or lead to an increase in risk-taking behavior
• Emotional lability, incongruity of affect, dysphoria, disorganized thinking, inability to converse logically, agitation, paranoia, confusion, restlessness, anxiety, drowsiness, and panic attacks may occur, especially in inexperienced users or in those who have taken a large dose
• Increased appetite and short-term memory impairment are common
Give a least 3 reasons why youth vape?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- advertising
-- flavors
-- peer pressure / social influences
-- nicotine + other chemicals
-- discreet compared to cigarettes (less smell)
Name 3 ways the tobacco industry targets youth with advertising
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- music
-- fashion
-- celebrity endorsements
-- conspicuous consumerism (cars, vacations / exotic locations)
-- selling "coolness" or an edgy + rebellious vibe
-- promising relaxation, stress relief, or mood enhancement
-- social pressure / pressure to fit in + "be the life of the party"
-- anything else?
What are three potential long-term health effects of vaping?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- asthma
-- heart disease
-- nicotine addiction
-- arterial damage
-- lung damage (popcorn lung)
-- taste bud suppression
-- cancer
-- anything else?
What are at least 3 signs of nicotine addiction?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- craving; feelings of "needing" to use a vape or smoke a cigarette
-- mood instability; shifting from irritable to jumpy to restless to anxious
-- sadness / depression
-- problems sleeping
-- having trouble concentrating / focusing
-- anything else?
Give 2 examples of how cannabis negatively impacts youth brain development.
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- excessive dopamine release
-- can become addictive (leading to additional addictive behaviors)
-- memory
-- thought organization
-- anything else?
What are at least 3 general benefits to quitting vaping?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- saving money
-- health improvements; both long term and short term
-- not "needing" to vape
-- no longer contributing to wasteful plastic use
-- improved mood; mood no longer controlled by nicotine use
-- improved self-esteem; feeling more in control
-- less anxiety
-- not needing to hide vapes or vaping from parents, family, or friends
-- anything else?
Are you permitted to wear clothing, accessories, or have items with tobacco company logos -- OR promote tobacco use -- on school property?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
ANSWER: NO.
There are rules in Student Code of Conduct in every school in NYS that prohibits students from wearing or using any items that promote tobacco use.
How does vaping effect someone's mental health?
Give 3 examples.
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- nicotine increases anxiety and depression
-- increased levels of symptoms that replicate ADHD; worse for those with ADHD
-- difficulty concentrating
-- difficulty making decisions
-- increased stress
-- irritability / mood swings
What percentage of youth + teens (12-18 years old) use vapes on a daily basis?
A) 20-25%
B) 45-50%
C) 35-40%
D) 15-20%
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
According to TRUTHINITIATIVE.ORG:
B) 45-50% of middle + high school students reported daily vape use in 2023 over a 30 day period.
Share 3 potential symptoms of cannabis withdrawal.
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- restlessness
-- irritability / mood swings
-- sleep difficulties
-- appetite swings
-- headaches
-- shakiness
-- excessive sweating
-- stomach pain
-- nausea
-- anything else?
What are 3 resources you can use to quit vaping?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- family
-- friends
-- coach, teacher, other adult mentor
-- NY QUIT LINE; they even have a texting service you + your parents can sign up for to support your quitting process.
-- Tobacco Free Buffalo Niagara CAI = local organization dedicated to helping tobacco cessation
-- Anything else?
How much money does the smokeless tobacco industry spend annually on advertising?
A) 3 million dollars
B) 100 million dollars
C) 573 million dollars
D) 340 million dollars
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
ANSWER: C) 573 million dollars (!!!)
According to the American Lung Association, in 2022 the top 5 smokeless tobacco companies spent 573 million dollars on advertising and promotions.
The price of cigarettes has a very significant effect on youth smoking. Every 10% increase in the price of cigarettes reduces youth consumption by 7%.
Studies indicate consumers response to price changes for tobacco products have a stronger response from youth than adults. This increases the risk of e-cigarettes for youth and the risk of addiction.
How does nicotine effect youth brain development?
Give at least 3 examples
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- changes in brain chemistry
-- impacts learning
-- harm to brain as it's developing
-- impacts memory
-- impacts attention span
-- hijacks dopamine
-- heavy use = more prone to addiction
-- decreased cognitive ability
-- increased mental health issues
-- behavioral issues
-- personality changes
-- anything else?
What are 3 main reasons that youth + teens (12 - 18 years old) start vaping?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
1) ADVERTISING: Tobacco companies use the same advertising themes and tactics that have been shown to increase youth initiation of cigarettes and other tobacco products. They also place ads on television and in other media where ads for other tobacco products, like cigarettes, are not allowed.
2) FLAVORS: In 2023, nearly 9 out of 10 middle and high school students who currently used e-cigarettes used a flavored product. The most commonly used flavors reported by these students were fruit, candy/desserts/other sweets, mint, and menthol.
3) SOCIAL INFLUENCE: Youth often obtain the e-cigarettes they use from others. Among U.S. middle and high school students who used e-cigarettes in 2021:
4) NICOTINE: With repeated use, a person's brain gets used to having nicotine. This can make them think they need nicotine just to feel okay. This is part of nicotine addiction. Young people can start showing signs of nicotine addiction quickly, sometimes before the start of regular or daily use. Because the adolescent brain is still developing, it is uniquely susceptible to nicotine.
Give 3 examples of potential long term negative side effects of cannabis use.
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- bronchitis
-- asthma
-- emphysema
-- suppressed immune system
-- memory issues / cognitive impairment
-- attention + focus impairment
-- smaller hippocampi (the region of the brain responsible for learning + memory)
-- anything else
SCENARIO:
A friend tells you they have been secretly vaping for at least 3 months + wants help to quit.
What can you do to help them?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- be patient
-- listen to them without judging them
-- ask if they want you to help them come up with a way to tell their parents + get more support
-- ask if it's ok that you talk to a trusted adult (like the school nurse or a teacher or counselor) to get more support
-- help them write a list of reasons they want to quit vaping
-- help them research different online resources for quitting vaping
-- tell them to text: DROPTHEVAPE to 88709 for free texting support for teens to stop vaping
-- help them plan some activities that will distract them from vaping -- what are their hobbies? What physical exercise or movement can they do when they feel like vaping? Do they have a journal or can they use the phone NOTES app to help distract themselves?
-- Help them find YouTube or TikTok videos of people who quit vaping talk about how they quit + improvements to their health
-- anything else?
Where are youth + teens (12-18 years old) most exposed to vaping ads?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
ANSWER: retail stores
-- RETAIL STORES: 68%
-- INTERNET: 48%
-- TV: 38%
-- PRINT MEDIA: 24%
Give 2 examples of how nicotine impacts sleep.
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- interrupts sleep cycle
-- insufficient sleep (nicotine effects the amygdala)
-- restlessness during sleep
-- nightmares
-- daytime fatigue
-- According to TRUTHINITIATIVE.ORG: Sleep is essential for young people’s brain development and mental health, with research finding an association between poor sleep quality and negative mental health.
-- anything else?
Which of these chemicals IS NOT found in vapes?
A) Nickel
B) Ammonia
C) Chromium
D) Propylene Glycol
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
ANSWER: B) ammonia
The other chemicals on the list, and many others, however are commonly found in vape container cartridges.
Here's a list of common chemicals:
-- heavy metals (nickel, tin, chromium, and others)
-- formaldehyde
-- cadmium
-- diethylene glycol
-- acetonitrile
-- benzene
-- alpha-pinene
-- diacetyl
-- nicotine
-- propylene glycol
-- glycerol
--- acrolein
SCENARIO:
You walk into the school bathroom and see two kids sharing a marijuana vape.
What should you do?
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
-- Most educators and administrators suggest that you should not confront those students directly; instead:
1) walk out of the bathroom
2) find a trusted adult in the building and let them know when + where the incident occurred
3) let adults handle the situation -- they can check cameras + address the issue
4) process the situation or follow up with a school counselor and/or parents later in the day
-- anything else?
How should school administration react when they encounter students vaping?
Give at least 3 examples of steps that should be taken after an incident.
Possible answers -- this list is not comprehensive, so the judges will have the final decision to award points.
TRUTHINITIATIVE.ORG (synthesized with several other large anti-tobacco use agencies) recommend these actions:
-- DO NOT suspend or expel students; disciplinary action does not address the issue and leads to further isolation from supports that can be found within the school community.
-- Students should be introduced to direct support -- that can be accessed at school and at home -- for vaping cessation (quitting).
-- Conversations with school administration and parents about the dangers + health concerns associated with vape use.
-- Students should meet with an in-school social worker or mental health counselor to assess chemical dependence.
-- School administration should discuss with parents + students to develop a cessation plan.
-- School administration may also decide to include community service hours for students to complete.
-- anything else?