Preventing and reducing youth smoking is a critical public health priority. It involves efforts to both discourage young people from starting to smoke (prevention) and support those who already smoke in quitting (cessation). Many youth who begin vaping eventually transition to traditional cigarettes. Efforts to curb youth smoking must include strong measures to address e-cigarettes, particularly flavored and high-nicotine products.

By combining education, policy, and support, we can significantly reduce the prevalence of smoking among youth and help those who smoke to quit.

Resources:

• The American Academy of Family Physicians Foundation (AAFP) - Tar Wars
  Tar Wars, an educational campaign owned and operated by the AAFP and designed to teach school-aged children about the harms and costs of using tobacco products.
• Tobacco Education Resource Library
  Information and resources on public health education, smoking cessation, tobacco research, retailer information, tobacco regulations, and compliance — all in one place.
• U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
  Statistics and resources on youth tobacco usage.
• Youth Smoking Prevention Strategies
• Alabama Department of Public Health - Tobacco and Vaping Prevention & Control