Southeastern Idaho Public Health is hosting a free online class on how to check youth vaping and nicotine addiction. It runs one evening on September 17.
A Class Act Pocatello
Organizers especially welcome parents and other Idahoans who take care of kids. They focus on the health risks tied to e-cigs and vapes. You get to recognize signs of nicotine use and learn to step in. There’s also practical advice to prevent nicotine use among youngsters who want to quit.
“We all want to keep our children safe and healthy,” noted Chessie Meyer. She’s the Youth Cessation Program Coordinator.
“This class is designed to give families the knowledge, tools and confidence they need to have meaningful conversations about vaping […] and support young people in making healthy choices.”
Nicotine Addiction in Idaho Teens
Nicotine in cigarettes, chewing tobacco and e-cigarettes reach the brain within seconds and triggers a dopamine release that the brain welcomes.
Adolescents haven’t fully developed reward and impulse control. So nicotine dependence and withdrawal take hold faster among them than in adults.
Vapes complicate this. Many are small and easy to hide. But vapes often have more nicotine per hit than a regular cigarette.
Early Conversations Matter
Young people who are hooked on smoking typically face higher risk for others.
The class’s approach mirrors what works for alcohol, cannabis and prescription misuse. Parents who build that habit around vaping tend to be readier if something bigger comes up later.
Local Resources & Next Steps in Idaho
Quitting any type of substance abuse is better with support than trying cold turkey. Young people can explore these options:
- Idaho’s Project Filter quitline
- School-based cessation programs that many Idaho districts now offer
- A pediatrician or family doctor to discuss nicotine replacement therapy and behavioral counseling
- Southeastern Idaho Public Health’s youth cessation program
An assessment from a licensed addiction professional can assist with harder drugs. Adolescent programs differ from adult programs in how they coordinate with families and schools.
Our browsable listings let you search addiction treatment centers across the USA by city, level of care and whether a program serves adolescents.
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