Local Youth Leaders Mobilize Against Tobacco Industry 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 is rising in popularity. As manipulative tobacco marketing continues to attract and addict young people to nicotine, local teens are stepping up to raise awareness and counter the tobacco industry's influence in their communities.

Five students from Columbia and Greene counties recently joined more than 150 teens from across the state at SUNY Oswego for the three-day All-Around New York Youth Summit designed to inform, involve and inspire them to address the tobacco industry's influence in their home communities.

Downloadable image here. Pictured from left are Malia Grant (Hudson CSD), Bella Davis (Ichabod Crane CSD), Jada Pernetti (homeschooled in Hudson), Becca Hamm (Ichabod Crane CSD), Lay Lay Davis (Ichabod Crane CSD), and Jade Goodman, Reality Check Coordinator.

Attending Youth Voices:

• “It feels good to be part of something bigger than myself,” said Malia Grant, a ninth-grade student at Hudson CSD.
• “Tobacco use is such a big issue in our schools, and it's empowering to be able to actually do something about it,” said Jada Pernetti, a 10th-grade student from Hudson.
• “Taking the information that I already know about tobacco marketing and sharing it with other kids from all around the state validates that our voices matter and that we can make a difference,” said Becca Hamm, a ninth-grade student at Ichabod Crane CSD.

Vaping declines, but e-cigarettes remain 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 Tobacco Free Action Communities in Columbia & Greene Counties, 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 TFAC Columbia Greene: Tobacco Free Action Communities in Columbia & Greene, 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 promote healthy communities. TFAC Columbia Greene serves Columbia and Greene counties in New York State. TFAC is funded by the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control. To learn more, visit: tobaccofreenys.org and Lung.org.