Vaping Prevention in a Middle School Population Using CATCH My Breath.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The number of teens using electronic cigarettes in the United States has reached epidemic proportions. One in 20 middle school youth currently vapes regularly (Wang et al., 2020), supporting the need for e-cigarette education and prevention programs in this vulnerable population. METHOD: The evidence-based youth vaping prevention program, CATCH My Breath, was implemented and evaluated in a small, private, parochial middle school using a quasi-experimental, within-subjects, longitudinal design. RESULTS: Students' e-cigarette knowledge significantly improved postintervention (p < .001) and was sustained at 3 months follow-up. Attitudes about vaping remained stable after postintervention and at 3 months follow-up (p > .05). Susceptibility toward vaping increased or remained consistent despite increased knowledge (p = .096). DISCUSSION: CATCH My Breath is an effective school-based resource to educate middle school youth about the dangers of vaping. Additional research is needed to evaluate the intervention's impact on e-cigarette attitudes and the measurement of susceptibility in teens.