The increasing use of electronic vaporizing devices (i.e. “vaping”), especially among youth and young adults, presents a challenge for public health and substance use treatment stakeholders. The decline in tobacco product use since the 1990s has been one of the great public health success stories in recent years. However, rising rates of vaping threaten to undo that success. Vaping of other substances, such as cannabis, is also on the rise and presents a related challenge. This two-part webinar series will discuss how, why, and to what extent vaping rates have increased across different populations and review effective public health and treatment responses to vaping.
Part One: The Extent and Risks of Vaping
March 21, 2023, 1:00-2:30pm Eastern. Register here.
This webinar will overview data on the scope of vaping and how it contrasts with historical and ongoing trends in other forms of nicotine and cannabis use. The webinar will discuss the risks from vaping and how they compare to other substance use risks. It will also summarize known risk factors for use and the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on use rates. Lastly, the webinar will discuss the inconclusive evidence for the use of vaping as a smoking cessation tool for adults.
Part Two: Recommendations and Strategies for Addressing Vaping
March 23, 2023, 1:00-2:30pm Eastern. Register here.
This webinar will examine evidence-based and promising public health policy recommendations and treatment strategies for addressing and reducing vaping use. It will also review the gaps in knowledge that still exist due to the recency of vaping as a major public health issue. Despite these gaps and lack of comprehensive treatment guidelines, there are promising programs such as CATCH My Breath and smokeSCREEN, as well as the potential for pharmacological interventions when warranted. In addition to discussing these strategies, the webinar will review potential public health policies for addressing environmental factors related to risk of vaping. It will also summarize recent federal and state regulatory actions to address vaping. Lastly, the webinar will provide a small group discussion opportunity for participants to share their experiences addressing vaping.