A new districtwide anti-vaping campaign is launching this fall to challenge the perception that vaping is more common among students than it actually is, according to a notice from Jordan High School. The initiative aims to inform students that the overwhelming majority of their classmates are choosing not to vape.
The campaign is funded through a Salt Lake County Health Department grant and will utilize school-specific posters featuring data from the Student Health and Risk Prevention (SHARP) Survey. Rather than using scare tactics, the campaign focuses on positive social norms. Examples include posters showing friends discussing how vaping was never a trend or sports-themed images reminding students that they call the shots, not nicotine.
The initiative follows data from the SHARP Survey, which measures substance use, sleep habits, and school climate among students in grades 6, 8, 10, and 12. Recent results show that marijuana use among Canyons students has dropped by approximately 34 percent, with similar declines reported for vaping and alcohol use. The survey also indicated improvements in student mental health, with more students reporting no symptoms of anxiety and depression compared to two years ago.
Canyons is expanding prevention efforts by incorporating the Catch My Breath curriculum into middle and high school health classes. This curriculum provides science-based information regarding the effects of vaping products on the developing body and brain.
District prevention specialist Ellie Bechard stated that the survey results indicate investments in student wellness are having a positive impact. The district noted that families play an essential role in prevention, as students with clear family expectations regarding substance use are less likely to experiment with nicotine.
