Helping Teens Quit

The American Lung Association is committed to helping educate, intervene and prevent the use of tobacco and nicotine by the next generation. This is especially important because close to 95 percent of smokers try their first cigarette before the age of 21. With the Federal Drug Administration's recent announcement about teen vaping reaching epidemic levels, the fight against nicotine and tobacco has become even more vital. The resources below can offer you the tools to not only talk to your kids about the dangers of tobacco but to help them quit if they have already become addicted.

Kids and Smoking

There are many reasons that kids pick up tobacco products and start using nicotine, and some of them may surprise you. Find out how to talk to your teens about avoiding smoking, and what to do if they need to quit. Learn more about youth smoking.

Not On Tobacco® (N-O-T)

Not On Tobacco® (N-O-T) is the American Lung Association's voluntary quit smoking program for teens ages 14 – 19. Over the 10-week program, participants learn to identify their reasons for smoking, healthy alternatives to tobacco use and people who will support them in their efforts to quit. Learn more about N-O-T.

INDEPTH

The American Lung Association's Intervention for Nicotine Dependence: Education, Prevention, Tobacco and Health (INDEPTH) is an alternative for students who face suspension for violation of school tobacco, vaping, or nicotine use policies. Students participate in a series of interactive educational sessions administered by an adult facilitator in either a one-on-one or group format in a school or community-based setting. Learn more about INDEPTH and how you can start a program.

Local Youth Tobacco Initiatives

Across the country, teens are gathering to keep their own communities' tobacco-free. These youth leaders are working to educate their peers about the dangers of nicotine and tobacco addiction. Contact your local American Lung Association office for information on youth leadership groups and other youth tobacco initiatives near you. Call 1-800-LUNGUSA. A few notable organizations are:

• Kick Butts Generation (KBG) — Delaware
• Tobacco Resistance Unit (TRU) — Pennsylvania
• RAZE — West Virginia
• FACT— Wisconsin

#DoTheVapeTalk

#DoTheVapeTalk is a youth vaping prevention campaign from the American Lung Association and the Ad Council. To provide parents with a simple roadmap to addressing the dangers of vaping with their kids, “Get Your Head Out of the Cloud” has free educational resources including a conversation guide on our website, TalkAboutVaping.org.