Siouxland District Health offers new vaping prevention curriculum for youth – Sioux City Journal

SIOUX CITY Siouxland District Health Department is using a new curriculum to educate Siouxland's youth about the harmful effects of tobacco use and vaping.

"You, Me, Together Vape Free," a Stanford University evidence-based curriculum, features interactive lessons that teach elementary, middle and high school students about how vaping impacts their health.

Anais Mares, Siouxland District Health Department's health promotion specialist and tobacco prevention coordinator, said the curriculum makes students aware of the strategies manufacturers and sellers of vaping products use to target young people, as well as teaches important skills that can be used to refuse e-cigarettes when they are offered.

"Ultimately, it was created to reduce and prevent the use of any type of vaping, including nicotine, THC and other harder drugs among kids and youth," Mares said.

A high school principal displays vaping devices April 10, 2018, that were confiscated from students in such places as restrooms or hallways at

According to the FDA's 2023 National Youth Survey, tobacco and vape use has decreased among high school students from 16.5% in 2022 to 12.6% in 2023. However, 2.8 million youth currently use any tobacco product. Tobacco/vape use among middle school students has increased from 4.5% in 2022 to 6.6% in 2023.

"Normally, in Woodbury County, our vaping rates are higher than Iowa overall," Mares said. "Nationally, we're seeing a downward trend, which is good."

Mares said youth are introduced to vaping through various means, including friends, family members and social media. Although Mares said the long-term effects of vaping on the body are unknown, she said it's not harmless.

"We don't have really a lot of data to say, 'If you vape, this is going to happen to you.' We do know that nicotine affects the way the brain continues to develop. So, it will affect brain development in teens and young adults," she said. "Nicotine is linked to cardiovascular disease. The biggest problem, though, is that nicotine is an extremely addictive substance. With its high addictiveness, it can lead to other nicotine use, like cigarettes, which we know can cause cancer and all of these other issues."

Mares has presented the curriculum to youth groups, including Girls Inc. She said student response to the curriculum has been positive.

"It's a very interactive course, so they'll get a chance to answer a bunch of questions, do some activities. It's very hands-on. I think that makes a huge difference with how kids and teens sometimes learn," she said. "I think the way it's presented at their level just helps them better understand what's going on and why these products are harmful to use at such a young age."

If you would like to offer this curriculum to youth or want additional information, contact Mares at 712-279-6119 or amares@siouxlanddistricthealth.org.

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Siouxland District Health offers new vaping prevention curriculum for youth - Sioux City Journal