Tobacco-Free GOW says youths targeted to use array of nicotine products

Press Release, Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming

Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming is proud to join communities across the country in observing National Drug & Alcohol Facts Week (NDAFW) from March 16-22 to empower young people in our communities with science-based information about nicotine and addiction.

The organization is marking NDAFW through school-based educational sessions, interactive youth workshops and parent and caregiver outreach with a focus on the tobacco industry’s expanded reach through high-tech “smart” vapes, disposable e-cigarettes and flavored nicotine pouches.

“National Drug Facts Week is a good time to remember the horrific toll of tobacco industry marketing and nicotine addiction in our communities,” says Brittany Bozzer, Reality Check Youth Coordinator for Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming. “Nicotine is considered as addictive or more than, heroin and cocaine, and is damaging to the developing brain.”

Despite progress in youth vaping in New York State from 18.7% in 2022 to 13.1% in 2024, overall youth nicotine use continues at a dangerous rate. And youth use of nicotine pouches doubled during the same time period.

An Evolving Nicotine Market

A 2026 Truth Initiative report shows that the nicotine industry has dramatically expanded its reach through high-tech “smart” vapes, disposable e cigarettes, and flavored nicotine pouches. These products are aggressively marketed to youth by using digital features, bright packaging, and fruity flavors. About 32% of youth who use e cigarettes reported using “smart” vapes in the past month, highlighting a growing trend that blends nicotine with interactive technology.

Sales of flavored oral nicotine pouches—such as Zyn, Velo, and On!—nearly tripled from 2023 to 2024, making them the fastest growing nicotine product category in the U.S. Flavored varieties dominate youth use.

These shifts reinforce the importance of Tobacco Free GOW’s mission to create environments where youth feel protected from targeted nicotine marketing and empowered to make tobacco  and nicotine free choices.

Youth Nicotine Use: Progress Plus Persistent Risks

According to data from the New York Youth Tobacco Survey (NY-YTS) youth e-cigarette use has declined significantly – from 18.7% in 2022 to 13.1% in 2024 – yet overall tobacco use remains a concern. Cigarette use remained low at 2.4%, showing promising long-term progress toward reducing combustible tobacco use.

CDC data show that 88.2% of high school students who used e cigarettes in the past 30 days chose flavored products, demonstrating the industry’s continued reliance on flavors to hook young users.

Key Facts Regarding Nicotine To Remember During Drug & Alcohol Facts Week

NDAFW, led by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), unites schools, health organizations, and prevention leaders to dispel myths about substance use and provide teens with factual, accessible information that supports healthier choices. Tobacco-Free GOW stresses these key facts about nicotine:

• Vaping and Addiction: Many teens do not perceive vaping as addictive, yet nicotine products like JUUL and Zyn are highly addictive, and 55% of high school students in a 2023 survey did not see vaping as a high-risk activity.

• The “Gateway” Effect: Using nicotine as an adolescent can alter the developing brain and may increase susceptibility for addiction to other substances, including alcohol and cannabis.

• Brain Development: The teenage brain is particularly vulnerable to nicotine, which can disrupt brain development, affect memory and impact attention.

• Industry Tactics: Tobacco companies are increasingly using social media influencers to target youth with new nicotine delivery systems.

• It’s Not Just Cigarettes: While cigarette smoking is a major concern, the rise of vaping and oral nicotine pouches require a broader focus on all nicotine products.

Supporting NDAFW Through Local Action

Tobacco Free GOW will honor National Drug Facts Week through:

• School based educational sessions highlighting the science of nicotine addiction
• Interactive youth workshops designed to counter myths about vaping
• Parent and caregiver outreach to support household conversations about nicotine
• Community partnerships to promote healthy, tobacco free norms

NYS Quitline is available to help

Anyone who lives in New York State may contact the NYS Quitline by calling 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487). They can also visit nysmokefree.com to reach a specialist through an online chat, request a call-back or order free nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) medications. The NYS Quitline additionally offers a variety of free texting programs for those seeking help at their fingertips.

Learn2QuitNY and Vivir Sin Tobaco Es Vida (culturally tailored for Spanish-speaking communities) provide daily texts and weekly goals; text QUITNOW or DÉJELO YA NY to 333888 to register. The NYS Quitline’s latest texting service, DropTheVape, supports young people and young adults in their efforts to overcome nicotine addiction. Registration and more information is available at DropTheVape.com.

New York State’s pledge to reducing smoking-related death and disease

The New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control funds TF-GOW to increase support for New York State’s tobacco-free norm through youth action and community engagement. Efforts are evidence-based, policy-driven, and cost-effective approaches that decrease youth tobacco use, motivate adult smokers to quit, and eliminate exposure to secondhand smoke.  TF-GOW is a program of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.