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Tobacco Prevention & Control
New Hanover County Public Health is committed to making policy, system, and environmental level changes that make smoke-free the easy choice in our community.
Partnership with New Hanover County Schools
New Hanover County Public Health divisions of Health Promotion and School Health have been working in partnership with New Hanover County Schools Health and Physical Education as well as Student Support Services to address the youth vaping epidemic that has come with the evolution of e-cigarette and vaping devices.
CATCH My Breath Curriculum 
Developed by Dr. Steven Kelder from the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston School of Public Health, CATCH My Breath is the only evidence-based youth vaping prevention curriculum, which means it has been proven effective at reducing the likelihood that young people will begin using vape and other electronic cigarette devices. After completing the program, 7 out of 8 students say they are less likely to use e-cigarettes. In fact, if every public school in the country implemented CATCH My Breath there would be 153,600 fewer 7th grade kids that would try e-cigarettes in a single year. The program is already adapted to meet national health education standards for grades 5-12, providing students with the knowledge and skills they need to make informed decisions about the use of vaping devices, including JUUL and other disposable products.
As of fall 2022, secondary Health and Physical Education Instructors have began implementing this curriculum in their classroom setting to help reduce the likelihood that teens in New Hanover County will began using e-cigarette, vape, and other tobacco products.
Alternative to Suspension
Engaging students in punitive punishment after they have been found using an e-cigarette or vaping device on school property has shown little to no effectiveness at reducing the likelihood students continue using those tobacco products. Rather then suspend students who have been found using on campus, some secondary schools across New Hanover County have taken steps to educate students on the reality of their nicotine addiction, the harmful effects of tobacco use, and the resources available to help them quit. This process has been guided by Stanford Medicine's Tobacco Prevention Toolkit and MY Healthy Future Course.