Module 4:
Creating your Vape-Free Society
Creating a vape-free society will take serious work from both youth and adults. If we’re going to work together to create the first nicotine-free generation, we must empower others to live the life tobacco-free, educate our peers and community members about the dangers of all tobacco products, and support those who are already struggling with a vaping addiction to quit.
Module 4 will give you the tools and resources that you will need to help create the first tobacco, nicotine, and vape-free society.
First, watch how the Say What! Teen Ambassadors live their life nicotine-free. Then, move through each step to learn more.
#1 START WITH WHY
Before you can empower others to live their life tobacco, nicotine, and vape-free, you must understand why you choose to live your life tobacco-free and why you want others to live that way, too. Maybe you have a relative or friend who struggles with a tobacco addiction or maybe you care about the people who are important to you, and you want nothing but the best for them.
No matter what your “why” is, it should drive your passion in deciding how you want to contribute your knowledge in creating a nicotine-free society. Download and complete the What’s Your Message template to craft your why statement.
#2 SPREAD YOUR MESSAGE
The power of your voice and the knowledge you have can transform your school and/or community more than you know. You can share information on social media, deliver presentations, write a letter to your school or local newspaper, or share your concerns with your local decision makers.
Say What! has several guides you can download to get started on spreading your message today!
CREATE A SOCIAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN
Download the Social Media Guide and Campaign Workbook to create your own social media campaign. You’ll be able to choose a tobacco-related topic, plan engaging and catchy content and imagery, and identify which social media platform to post on!
EDUCATE OTHERS
Educating your peers and community about the dangers of vaping can help prevent people from using e-cigarettes and Say What! PowerPoints are the perfect tool to help you. Our presentations were created by Teen Ambassadors, Consultants, and staff, and were presented during statewide trainings including Say What! Action Summits and the annual Texas Tobacco-Free Conference.
INFORM THE COMMUNITY
A letter to the editor is typically sent to a newspaper or publication to notify them about current issues or concerns and is often published by a media platform. Use the Letter to the Editor Guide to express your concerns about vaping among youth to your local media or school newspaper.
You can learn more about how to use your voice to help create change
by visiting the Speak Up page on the Say What! website.
#3 PROMOTE THE TOBACCO-FREE LIFE
The Say What! movement has focused on helping youth and adults work together to reduce tobacco use across the state through local projects supported by Say What! resources.
Since 2010, the movement has reached over 1.5 MILLION Texans about the dangers of all tobacco products and the deceptive tactics the tobacco industry uses to addict more people every day.
You can promote living the tobacco-free life by joining the Say What! movement and using our free resources to help you educate and inform your peers and community members. If your youth group isn’t already a part of the movement, you can click the join button below to get started today.
#4 HELP OTHERS QUIT
People who vape aren’t bad people. They just have a bad habit that’s hard to quit, and most people who quit didn’t do it on their own. Someone who feels supported is more likely to quit using e-cigarettes for good!
That’s why friends and family play a huge role in helping a person become vape-free. Just remember, you’ll have to be there for them for the long haul because quitting vaping takes time.
Click through the tips below to see how you can help support a friend or family member to quit any tobacco product.
Tip 1
Tip 2
Tip 3
Tip 4
Tip 5
Share a Key Fact
Start the conversation by sharing an interesting fact you learned about vaping. Make sure your tone is caring and not confrontational. You don’t want to lecture them and make them feel guilty or never ask for your help again.
You can learn more about the dangers of all tobacco products by visiting our Get the Facts on Tobacco section.
Ask Questions
Asking open-ended questions can help you understand why they started vaping in the first place and how difficult their addiction may be.
Here are few great questions:
“What made you want to start vaping?”
“What things have been stressing you out lately?”
“Why did you decide to quit?”
“What can I do to help make quitting easier for you?”
Offer Distractions
Support your friend or family member by planning fun activities that distract them from thinking about their vape. You can suggest going to the movies, taking a walk, or planning a game night with friends.
Download our 30-Day Wellness Challenge for a few great ideas!
Help with Cravings
Triggers and cravings are a normal part of the quitting process. When a craving hits, suggest to your friend and family member to chew a piece of gum, drink water, squeeze a stress ball, or take deep breaths.
Download our It’s Never Too Late to Quit card in English or Spanish to help them handle a craving.
Reaffirm if they Slip
Your friend or family member may slip at some point and vape. They’ll probably feel guilty, so getting angry with them won’t help. Instead, reassure them that they can still quit, remind them of the progress they’ve made, and help them identify what triggered the craving that led to the slip.
Sources for Module 4 include the American Cancer Society and SmokeFree.gov
Training Module | History of Tobacco Prevention in Texas
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Toll Free: 877.304.2727
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Mailing Address
Texas School Safety Center
ATTN: Say What Program
Texas State University
601 University Drive
San Marcos, TX 78666
Say What! was created and designed by young people from across Texas and connects students interested in eliminating tobacco from their schools and communities. The Say What! movement is funded by the Texas Department of State Health Services through a contract with the Texas School Safety Center at Texas State University.