Empowering New York City Youth to Live Vape Free

In collaboration with the New York City Public Schools and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, CATCH is providing its nationally-recognized and evidence-based youth vaping prevention program, CATCH My Breath, to public school educators serving middle and high school students.

Through a generous grant from the New York Health Foundation, up to 210 educators during the 2023-2025 school years will receive free training on CATCH My Breath program implementation, customized parent and student engagement resources, and quarterly access to a vaping prevention e-Newsletter and Communities of Practice event in order to learn the latest research and best practices. Additionally, middle and high school students will be engaged across New York City in youth empowerment and service learning opportunities via a citywide public service announcement (PSA) contest in the 2024-2025 school year.

Despite the numerous health consequences, vaping and e-cigarettes continue to gain traction among youth in New York City. In 2019, one in six high school students reported using e-cigarettes. Nearly five times as many high school students in New York City use e-cigarettes than smoke cigarettes. In 2018, one in 15 middle school students reported using e-cigarettes. E-cigarettes are particularly harmful for youth because those who use them are more likely to start smoking cigarettes, and additionally, nicotine impacts youth brain development.

The goals of the CATCH My Breath NYC initiative are to reduce the initiation of nicotine vaping by middle and high school students by building the capacity of educators to deliver vaping prevention education to students and parents, and empower students to choose and advocate for a vape-free lifestyle.