Vaping Prevention in a Middle School Population Using CATCH My Breath

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Adolescent Health
• Substance Abuse Prevention

Background:

• Electronic cigarette use among US teens has reached epidemic levels.
• One in 20 middle schoolers currently vapes, highlighting the need for targeted prevention.
• Adolescents are a vulnerable population requiring effective e-cigarette education.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of the CATCH My Breath youth vaping prevention program.
• To assess the program's impact on middle school students' knowledge, attitudes, and susceptibility to vaping.
• To determine the program's efficacy as a school-based intervention.

Main Methods:

• A quasi-experimental, within-subjects, longitudinal design was employed.
• The CATCH My Breath program was implemented in a private middle school.
• Data were collected postintervention and at a 3-month follow-up.

Main Results:

• Student knowledge regarding e-cigarettes significantly improved postintervention and was sustained at 3 months.
• Attitudes toward vaping remained stable throughout the study period.
• Vaping susceptibility increased or remained consistent, despite enhanced knowledge.

Conclusions:

• CATCH My Breath is an effective school-based program for educating youth on vaping dangers.
• Further research is necessary to understand the intervention's effect on vaping attitudes and susceptibility.
• Evaluating the long-term impact on teen vaping behavior requires additional investigation.