Idaho Public Television Launches KNOW VAPE Campaign to Combat Youth Vaping

Idaho Public Television (IdahoPTV) has launched a statewide campaign aimed at raising awareness about the dangers of youth vaping in the state. The campaign, known as KNOW VAPE, will focus on educating parents, teachers, and students on the potential risks and harms associated with vaping among young people.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), e-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth in the United States. In Idaho, the use of e-cigarettes among high school students has increased by 56% over the past three years, with one in four students now reporting that they use e-cigarettes.

The KNOW VAPE campaign aims to combat this trend by providing accurate and timely information on the risks associated with vaping. The campaign will also focus on educating parents and teachers on how to talk to their children and students about the dangers of vaping.

IdahoPTV’s General Manager, Ron Pisaneschi, emphasized the importance of the KNOW VAPE campaign in protecting the health and wellbeing of Idaho’s youth. “We have a responsibility to inform our communities about the risks associated with youth vaping,” he said. “KNOW VAPE is an important step in raising awareness and promoting education on this critical public health issue.”

The KNOW VAPE campaign will include a range of initiatives, including public service announcements, educational videos, and social media campaigns. The campaign will also partner with local schools and community organizations to provide resources and support to parents, teachers, and students.

One of the key components of the KNOW VAPE campaign is the development of a series of educational videos, which will be available on IdahoPTV’s website and social media channels. The videos will cover a range of topics, including the health risks associated with vaping, how e-cigarettes work, and the marketing tactics used by the vaping industry to target young people.

The KNOW VAPE campaign will also include a series of public service announcements that will be broadcast on IdahoPTV’s television and radio channels. These announcements will aim to raise awareness about the risks of vaping and encourage young people to seek help if they are struggling with addiction.

In addition to these initiatives, the KNOW VAPE campaign will partner with local schools and community organizations to provide resources and support to parents, teachers, and students. The campaign will offer free educational materials, such as posters and brochures, to schools and community organizations to help raise awareness about the dangers of youth vaping.

The KNOW VAPE campaign has received support from a range of organizations, including the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare and the American Cancer Society. “We are pleased to support the KNOW VAPE campaign and its efforts to raise awareness about the risks of youth vaping,” said Elke Shaw-Tulloch, the director of the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. “It is important that we work together as a community to protect the health and wellbeing of our young people.”

The American Cancer Society has also praised the KNOW VAPE campaign for its focus on education and prevention. “The KNOW VAPE campaign is an important step in raising awareness about the dangers of youth vaping and promoting healthy behaviors among young people,” said Brian Bowser, the state director of government relations for the American Cancer Society. “We are proud to support this initiative and look forward to working with IdahoPTV and its partners to help protect the health of Idaho’s youth.”

The KNOW VAPE campaign comes at a critical time, as the use of e-cigarettes continues to rise among young people in Idaho and across the country. The campaign’s focus on education and prevention will be crucial in addressing this growing public health concern.

As the campaign continues to roll out across the state, IdahoPTV is urging parents, teachers, and community members to get involved and help spread the word about the dangers of youth vaping. With the support of the community, the KNOW VAPE campaign can make a real difference in protecting the health and wellbeing of Idaho’s young people.

IdahoPTV has also stressed the importance of understanding the specific risks associated with vaping, particularly for young people. E-cigarettes can contain harmful chemicals and substances, including nicotine and heavy metals, that can have negative impacts on developing brains and bodies. The long-term health effects of vaping are still largely unknown, but early research suggests that it may increase the risk of respiratory problems and cardiovascular disease.

In addition to the physical health risks, vaping can also have social and emotional consequences for young people. Vaping can be addictive, leading to dependence and withdrawal symptoms. It can also impact academic performance and social relationships, as students who vape may be more likely to engage in risky behaviors and feel isolated from their peers.

The KNOW VAPE campaign hopes to address these issues by providing accurate and timely information on the risks associated with vaping, as well as resources and support for young people who may be struggling with addiction or other related issues.

The KNOW VAPE campaign is part of a broader effort to address the issue of youth vaping in Idaho and across the country. In recent years, there has been increased attention on the dangers of e-cigarettes, with many states and communities implementing laws and regulations to restrict access to these products.

In Idaho, for example, the state legislature recently passed a law raising the legal age for purchasing tobacco and e-cigarette products to 21. The law, which went into effect in July 2021, aims to reduce youth access to these products and prevent young people from becoming addicted to nicotine.

However, more work needs to be done to address the issue of youth vaping, and the KNOW VAPE campaign is an important step in this direction. By raising awareness and promoting education on the risks of vaping, IdahoPTV hopes to empower young people to make healthy choices and reduce the negative impacts of e-cigarette use on their lives.

The KNOW VAPE campaign launched by Idaho Public Television is a crucial step in addressing the growing public health concern of youth vaping in the state. The campaign’s focus on education and prevention, as well as its partnerships with local schools and community organizations, will be instrumental in raising awareness about the risks of vaping and providing resources and support to young people who may be struggling with addiction or other related issues. With the support of the community, the KNOW VAPE campaign can make a real difference in protecting the health and wellbeing of Idaho’s young people.

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