OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program info pack

We often get asked for information on our Vaping Prevention Program so that educators, health professionals, community health & wellbeing officers, and other wellbeing advocates can share information and resources with schools, parents, and other clients. So we’ve put together some marketing materials for your newsletters, social posts, magazines, or anywhere else you may want to share information.

Background

Vaping is a critical behavioural issue in schools around Australia that rapidly emerged in recent years. Data shows that 1 in 6 high school students have vaped recently, and 12-year-olds who have vaped are 29 times more likely to go on to try cigarette smoking. Youth vaping has been on the rise, and in turn, the risk of a new generation dependent on nicotine. Young people are very impressionable and having information from evidence-based, reputable sources is a must.

What is the OurFutures Vaping Program?

The OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program is an online, clinically-proven prevention program targeting adolescent e-cigarette use in Australia for years 7-8. It provides young people with a toolkit of skills they can use in the real world to help prevent vaping and smoking.

Based on the best available evidence and aligned with the Health and Physical Education curriculum, the OurFutures Vaping Program aims to empower young people to say no to e-cigarettes and tobacco cigarettes and improve their health and well-being.

What is the evidence behind it?

The OurFutures Vaping Program is being rigorously evaluated in a cluster randomised controlled trial across 40 Australian high schools and 5,000+ students, using the same effective prevention education methodology as the other award-winning OurFutures programs.

Initial results have shown that immediately after receiving the program, students had significantly reduced intentions to vape, as well as improved knowledge about the harms and risks associated with vaping. Over 8 in 10 students said the skills and information they learnt would help them deal more effectively with vaping situations in the future.

How does it work?

The OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program consists of 4 lessons. Each lesson contains a relatable 20-minute cartoon story, engaging interactive quizzes, and class discussion. The program cuts through misinformation, adopting the same comprehensive harm-minimisation and social influence approach that all the OurFutures programs use. This involves providing evidence-based information about e-cigarettes and tobacco smoking and the harms involved, normative education to correct misconceptions on use, and resistance skills training, as well as strategies to break the cycle of nicotine dependence.

What students learn about:

Understanding the harms and health effects of vaping
Common vaping misconceptions and their corrections
The impact of social media and social influences
Assertive communication and refusal skills to resist peer pressure
Strategies to break the cycle of nicotine dependence
Help-seeking for vaping, smoking, and mental health

How can I access the program?

The Australian Government is now funding a nationwide roll-out of the OurFutures Vaping Prevention program to year 7-8 students across the country. The program is opt-in and completely free for all Australian schools.

Or for more information, head to: https://ourfuturesinstitute.org.au/vaping/

Other resources:

Read more about vaping (facts and risks) here.

If you’re enrolled in the OurFutures Vaping Program, we have more resources available, including a help-seeking brochure, support on quitting vaping, and information on supporting friends. Access them by logging in, clicking on the Vaping module, and find them under ‘Useful links’.

Informative articles with more info on the Vaping Program roll-out:

Government funding for our Vaping Program: what next?

OurFutures Vaping Program in the media

National roll-out of OurFutures Vaping Prevention program for young Australians

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