Empowering youth to be vape free.
CATCH My Breath’s peer-led teaching approach empowers students with the knowledge and skills needed to make informed decisions about e-cigarettes and resist social pressures to vape. Informed by tobacco youth prevention researchers and practitioners, years of real world implementation, and a youth advisory board, it is the only school-based vaping prevention program proven to reduce the likelihood of vaping among youth.
Youth informed.
Program Information for Parents
Introduction Letter to Parents
English version / Spanish version This letter is intended for parents whose children are going to participate in the CATCH My Breath program. (Teachers: This is the same letter mentioned in Session 0.)
Parent Information Handout
English version / Spanish version
This handout covers general program information and answers questions like “What will students learn?” and “Why is E-cigarette education needed?” If you would like more information about the program or to bring the program to your child’s school, please email [email protected].
Parent Toolkit Grades 5-12
Parent Toolkit Grades 5-12
English version / Spanish version
This toolkit is a way for parents to learn more about the vaping epidemic, gauge their child’s risk of trying e-cigarettes, and find the best strategy for them to talk to their child about e-cigarettes.
Parent Toolkit Videos
Video One: The Youth Vaping Epidemic
Youth vaping is on the rise and parents need to be equipped with e-cigarette knowledge. This video covers four facts about youth vaping and how your child might be impacted by the epidemic.
Video Two: Strategies to Support Your Child’s Healthy Decisions
Checking in with your child can help them make healthy decisions, including the decision to not use e-cigarettes. In this video, you will learn simple, yet effective ways to check in with your child and support healthy decisions.
Video Three: Could Your Child be Vaping?
E-cigarettes can sometimes be hard to spot, making your job as a parent more challenging. In this video, you will learn how to identify e-cigarette and vaping products. You will also learn of common signs of vaping and nicotine addiction.
Video Four: 4 Reasons to Talk to Your Child about E-Cigarettes Today
Talking with your child about smoking and vaping can be difficult, and some parents avoid the discussion altogether. In this video, you will learn the important reasons why you should talk with your child about vaping.
Video Five: How to Talk to Your Child about E-Cigarettes
Talking to your child about smoking and vaping doesn’t have to be overwhelming. In this video, you will learn four tips to effectively talk with your child about vaping.
E-Cigarette Background Information
What is an E-cigarette?
E-cigarettes are a type of electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS) and their appearance can vary from resembling a conventional cigarette to a USB flash drive. They use a nicotine liquid often called e-liquid or e-juice, which is often sweet or candy flavored, to deliver nicotine to the body. While they were developed as a means to help smokers quit, they have rapidly become the new means of nicotine addiction, especially among young people. The following video explains e-cigarettes in detail.
What does an E-cigarette look like?
E-cigarettes can take on many different shapes and forms and they can vary in name. Today, E-cigarettes include brands such as JUUL, Blu,Vapor Fi, PHIX,Suorin Air, My Jet, and PULSE. Below you can see examples of (1) disposable e-cigarettes, (2) reusable “tanks” or “mods” (3) Suorin drops, (4) and JUULs. Although there are a lot of e-cigarette options available, JUUL is currently the most popular e-cigarette in the United States with roughly 75% of the market share.
How common is E-cigarette use?
As of 2020, 19.6% of high school students and 4.7% of middle school students across the U.S. have used E-cigarettes in the past 30 days. This data points to the fact that large numbers of American children will become addicted to nicotine and are at risk for becoming a regular tobacco user.
CDC: 2020 National Youth Tobacco Survey
How harmful are e-cigarettes?
- E-cigarettes are a source of extremely high doses of ultrafine particles in the human respiratory system. These particles have been linked to cardiovascular disease.
- Nicotine is much more addictive to the immature teen brain compared to the developed adult brain.
- Even a little nicotine can lead to ADHD-like symptoms and compulsive behavior, which can contribute to classroom behavior problems.
- There is some evidence that nicotine primes the brain for other drug addictions.
- Nicotine is extremely harmful to the developing fetus. There is no known safe level of nicotine exposure in utero.
- Drinking nicotine in E-juice is harmful and possibly fatal for babies and toddlers.
- Nicotine overdose symptoms include rapid heart rate, nausea, elevated blood pressure, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, convulsion, and potentially seizure and death.
- The process of heating the nicotine solution produces aldehyde, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, and acrolein, which are known carcinogens.
- The glycerin/propylene glycol and 8,000+ flavoring chemicals in e-cigarettes have only been approved for ingestion (eating). It is not recommended by the manufacturers that these chemicals be inhaled, as they have not been widely tested for their potential sensitizing, toxic, or irritating characteristics.
- Many E-liquids are custom-mixed by individuals at home, increasing the potential for additional health risks to E-cigarette users. Even commercial E-liquids are produced with unknown manufacturing procedures, packaging materials, and purity standards.
Addicted Early
This 4-minute video follows two friends, Mari and Jake before school as they discuss a class project and Jake’s new obsession with his vape.
Proven Effective
CATCH My Breath is the only evidence-based youth nicotine vaping prevention program for grades 5-12 that has been proven to substantially reduce students’ likelihood of vaping. The vape education program’s effectiveness was published in a peer-reviewed journal and the program is listed in SAMHSA’s Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series.
Robust Program & Resources
Developed by The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston (UTHealth) School of Public Health, the vape education program includes grade-level specific and health education standards-aligned classroom curriculum alongside a variety of engaging supplemental materials including STEM/Humanities/PE extensions, self-paced modules, and virtual field trips.
Training & Support
CATCH Global Foundation provides teacher and health educator trainings that help ensure facilitators are effective in the vape education program delivery. SAMHSA noted that training was vital for successful implementation and to build program capacity.
Program Contents
Video Lessons
Available as a paid add-on option, these engaging video lessons include on-screen slides, activity prompts, and companion worksheets.
Designed for synchronous or asynchronous learning environments, we provide two delivery formats to give teachers optimal flexibility.
PE Supplement
The PE supplement is an active addition to CATCH My Breath that was designed to reinforce learning objectives in an active physical education setting. The supplement is available in two versions: Grades 5-8 and Grades 9-12.
Virtual Field Trips
The Virtual Field Trips (VFTs) are engaging video resources that allow educators to take their students to unique places, meet interesting people, and have immersive and educational experiences – all without leaving the classroom! Developed in partnership with Discovery Education as part of the Be Vape Free initiative, these VFTs are a great way to kickoff Red Ribbon Week (October), Tobacco Awareness Month (November), or the start of the CATCH My Breath program at your campus.
Just The Facts: A Be Vape Free Virtual Field Trip
Get ready for an exciting virtual detective story that lets your students become E-cigarette Sleuths cracking the case of vaping once and for all! Introduce students to an array of amazing special guests, and dive into the science of addiction by tracking vape aerosol on its nefarious journey from the e-cigarette all the way into the lungs, bloodstream, and brain.
Witness the thrilling conclusion of the great vape mystery by watching today! You can get your Vape Investigators excited both before and after watching the Virtual Field Trip with the companion Educator Guide.
Clearing The Air: A Be Vape Free Virtual Field Trip
Join us for a real-world virtual learning opportunity to get the facts on the vaping epidemic. Students will gain powerful insights as several teenagers share their firsthand experiences of successfully avoiding e-cigarettes, learn how to think critically about everyday influences like advertising and social media, pick up effective refusal skills and debunk common myths with a health professional. Be sure to share this important virtual learning experience with your students, as those who use e-cigarettes are at increased risk of complications from respiratory illnesses like COVID-19!
Self-Paced Modules
Self-paced modules are designed to be done independently by students, but not as a substitute for the core program. The engaging and interactive content is accessed directly by students via the web. These modules were developed in partnership with Discovery Education as part of the Be Vape Free initiative.
Elementary School Self-Paced Module Video Series
Encourage students to investigate the truth and consequences of vaping and e-cigarette use. Educators may view the videos together with their students using the standards-aligned lesson plans and educator guide or assign it for students to explore independently.
Middle School Self-Paced Module: Vaping Risks Revealed
Can you get addicted to vaping? Does using e-cigarettes affect your brain? Students will have the opportunity to learn about the effects of vaping as well as strategies for making safe choices.
Standards & Alignments
CASEL Standards
Self-Awareness
The ability to accurately recognize one’s own emotions, thoughts, and values and how they influence behavior. The ability to accurately assess one’s strengths and limitations, with a well-grounded sense of confidence, optimism, and a “growth mindset.”
- Identifying emotions
- Accurate self-perception
- Recognizing strengths
- Self-confidence
- Self-efficacy
Self-Management
The ability to successfully regulate one’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors in different situations — effectively managing stress, controlling impulses, and motivating oneself. The ability to set and work toward personal and academic goals.
- Impulse control
- Stress management
- Self-discipline
- Self-motivation
- Goal-setting
- Organizational skills
Social Awareness
The ability to take the perspective of and empathize with others, including those from diverse backgrounds and cultures. The ability to understand social and ethical norms for behavior and to recognize family, school, and community resources and supports.
- Perspective-taking
- Empathy
- Appreciating diversity
- Respect for others
Relationship Skills
The ability to establish and maintain healthy and rewarding relationships with diverse individuals and groups. The ability to communicate clearly, listen well, cooperate with others, resist inappropriate social pressure, negotiate conflict constructively, and seek and offer help when needed.
- Communication
- Social engagement
- Relationship-building
- Teamwork
Responsible Decision-Making
The ability to make constructive choices about personal behavior and social interactions based on ethical standards, safety concerns, and social norms. The realistic evaluation of consequences of various actions, and a consideration of the well-being of oneself and others.
- Identifying problems
- Analyzing situations
- Solving problems
- Evaluating
- Reflecting
- Ethical responsibility
Evidence-Based
A peer-reviewed study of CATCH My Breath found that students in schools that implemented the program were half as likely to experiment with e-cigarettes over the following 16 months, compared with those in schools that did not receive the program. The publication of the findings in Public Health Reports – the official journal of the U.S. Surgeon General – makes CATCH My Breath the first evidence-based vaping prevention program. The study also found the program increased student knowledge of vaping dangers and positive perceptions about choosing a vape-free lifestyle.
Program impact on an average middle school’s 7th grade class (192 students):
No Intervention
17 will try e-cigarettes if we do nothing.
Intervention: CATCH My Breath
8 would be prevented with CATCH My Breath.
SAMHSA-Recognized
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) recognized CATCH My Breath as the only recommended school-level youth vaping intervention in their Evidence-Based Resource Guide Series. SAMHSA noted that receiving training on CATCH My Breath was “vital” for successful implementation of the program and to build program capacity.
Want help developing a plan to use SAMHSA grant funds to implement tobacco youth prevention by CATCH My Breath in your community? Contact our program experts.
Community Tested
See All CATCH My Breath Spotlights
CATCH My Breath is the most-used youth nicotine vaping prevention program in the United States. The curriculum is offered free of cost to U.S. middle schools and high schools and has served over 1.8 million students across all 50 states in over 5,500+ schools.
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To effectively scale our work and reach millions of children, CATCH My Breath relies on the generous support of our funding partners and donors, who help us bring full vape education program implementation and local capacity building services to the underserved communities who need it most.
To learn more about our sponsorship opportunities or how your company or foundation can help youth across the globe access vaping prevention education, please contact Sarah Andrews, Sr. Director of Philanthropy & Development, at [email protected].
CATCH My Breath program usage in the U.S.
Used by Top Districts Nationwide
– Including –
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WEBINAR | See CATCH: Student Well-Being Starts with Staff Wellness
September 21st
11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. CST
Get your school year off to a healthy start with actionable resources and strategies! We will explore how staff wellness fits into an overall school health initiative as we examine a CDC-funded “School Employee Wellness” toolkit and hear from an educator who is putting ideas into practice.