Local Youth Leaders Mobilize Against Tobacco Marketing at Statewide Summit

Despite significant progress in reducing youth vaping in New York, more than one in 10 high school students still use e-cigarettes, and nicotine pouch use has doubled since 2022. As manipulative tobacco marketing continues to attract and addict young people to nicotine, local teens are stepping up to fight back.

Two area students recently joined more than 100 teens from across the state at SUNY Oswego for the three-day All-Around New York Reality Check Youth Summit designed to inform, involve and inspire them to fight the tobacco industry’s influence in their home communities. Pictured from left: Molly Franco, Community Engagement Coordinator, POW’R Against Tobacco, Abbie Munger and Hannah Munger, Pine Bush High School, Katie Farrelly, Reality Check Coordinator, POW’R Against Tobacco. Downloadable images here.

“The Reality Check Summit helped me realize just how important youth are in sharing tobacco prevention messages. At the summit, I met many other youth members from all over the state who share the same interest in having an impact on their community views of tobacco.”—Hannah M., 10th grade, Pine Bush High School

“Reality Check gave me an opportunity to meet new people who also share interest in tobacco prevention and awareness, combining new friendships and learning opportunities into a whole lot of fun.”—Abbie M., 12th grade, Pine Bush High School. Image right: Youth across state participate in mock community engagement fair where they educated their peers on different topics, including: tobacco environmental issues, deceptive tobacco marketing tactics, and Big Tobacco’s impact on marginalized communities.

Vaping drops but e-cigarettes are still popular among youth
According to the 2024 New York Youth Tobacco Survey, e-cigarettes remain the most used tobacco product among high school students. Efforts by the New York State Tobacco Control Program have helped reduce youth use from 18.7% in 2022 to 13.1% in 2024. Despite this progress, more than one in 10 youth still use e-cigarettes and nicotine pouch use among this group doubled during the same time period.

Teens prepare to take action
During the three-day summit, teens developed leadership, communication and mobilization skills by engaging in workshops, learning storytelling techniques and creating displays for community education. They also planned and practiced activities to carry out locally. Their aim is to raise awareness about industry tactics that normalize tobacco use—marketing sweet, low-cost products that appeal to young people and make it harder for current users to quit.

The teens are part of Reality Check of POW’R Against Tobacco, a program of the statewide Tobacco Control Program funded by the state’s Department of Health. Reality Check is a youth-led movement that empowers young people to become community leaders. Supported by adults, the initiative exposes the manipulative and deceptive marketing tactics of the tobacco industry.

Source: New York Youth Tobacco Survey 2024

About POW’R Against Tobacco:

POW’R Against Tobacco, a program of the American Lung Association, is a network of local agencies and individuals working together to reduce the prevalence of tobacco use and to promote healthy communities. POW’R serves Putnam, Orange and Westchester counties in New York State. POW’R is funded by the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control. To learn more visit: POWRAgainstTobacco.org.