Kane County Health Department and Elgin U-46 partner to prevent youth vaping in 55 schools

The Kane County Health Department and Elgin School District U-46 are partnering to implement a youth vaping prevention program in their 55 schools during the 2024-25 school year.

The health department’s youth anti-vaping initiative, “Vape Free, Together,” aims to bring together students, schools, parents, and tobacco retailers to prevent youth vaping.

Vaping (the inhalation and exhalation of nicotine and other chemicals in vapor from an e-cigarette or similar device) is not considered safe for adolescents or young adults. Nicotine can harm brain development in children and young adults, and most liquids used in vaping devices contain nicotine.

The “Vape Free, Together” program provides teacher training in a vaping prevention curriculum, parent education opportunities, and tobacco retailer outreach. The initiative is supported by the Illinois Tobacco Free Communities grant administered by the Illinois Department of Public Health.

“According to the 2022 Illinois Youth Survey and the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey, Kane County middle schoolers are vaping at a higher rate than the national average,” said Michael Isaacson, executive director. “We are thrilled to partner with U-46 to educate students in their elementary, middle and high schools to tackle this problem.”

“District U-46 is committed to creating a safe and healthy learning environment for all our students. Addressing the vaping epidemic head-on is a top priority to ensure our schools remain conducive to academic excellence,” said Tracey Jakaitis, Elgin School District U-46 Student Wellness curriculum coordinator.

For more information about the Kane County Tobacco Control and Prevention Program, visit kanehealth.com/Pages/Tobacco-and-Vaping.aspx.

For free tobacco quit help, including counseling and nicotine replacement products, visit quityes.org.