Nearly 20% Of 12th-Graders Vape According To Arizona Department Of Health Services - New Awareness Campaign Launched

Young People Can Join the ‘Unvape Generation’ by Sharing Their Healthy Hobbies

New ADHS campaign harnesses social media to promote alternatives to e-cigarette use

PHOENIX — A new campaign from the Arizona Department of Health Services (ADHS) harnesses the power of social media to encourage young people to join an “Unvape Generation” by stopping – or never starting – the use of electronic cigarettes. 

Keyed to public service announcements available on the ADHS YouTube channel, the campaign encourages young people to share their healthy hobbies that can be alternatives to e-cigarette use and declare themselves part of the Unvape Generation. 

In Arizona, about one in five Arizona 12th-graders and one out of 12 eighth-graders vapes, according to the Arizona Youth Survey conducted in 2020. That’s more than twice the rate of teens who smoke traditional cigarettes.

E-cigarettes are unsafe for kids and teens. Most contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm brain development even into the early to mid-20s. Young people who vape may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.

The aerosol that e-cigarette users breathe and exhale can contain harmful and potentially harmful substances, including:

• Nicotine
• Ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs
• Flavoring such as diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease
• Volatile organic compounds
• Cancer-causing chemicals
• Heavy metals such as nickel, tin, and lead

Unvape Generation videos will appear on social media channels, including Instagram, TikTok, Snapchat, Facebook, and YouTube. To find the videos on these channels, search for the hashtag #Unvape.  

Supporting the Unvape Generation campaign, the website Unvape.org is designed to inform those ages 13 to 17 about the dangers of tobacco smoke and vaping. It includes:

• Teens who are part of the Unvape Generation, showcasing their hobbies and skills
• Resources for teens, parents, and the community regarding vaping and tobacco prevention and cessation
• A Q&A section and national and local vaping statistics

Unvape Generation was produced by the ADHS Office of Tobacco Prevention and Cessation.