North Carolinians for a Tobacco-Free Generation Podcast

How Youth Advocates Are Working to Stop Teen Vaping

In this episode, we sit down with Nevaeh, Ella, and My Linh, who serve as youth ambassadors for the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. As advocates, they are on the front lines of the fight against teen tobacco and nicotine use. These young leaders share what inspired them to get involved, the challenges they’re seeing in their communities, and how they’re working to create real change. From raising awareness about youth vaping to pushing for stronger policies, this conversation highlights the power of youth voices in shaping a tobacco-free future.

PAVe the Way: Parents Leading the Fight Against Youth Vaping

In this episode, Caroline Joyce, Executive Director of Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes (PAVe), discusses how parents can play a key role in addressing the youth vaping epidemic. She shares how the organization was founded, the challenges families face when discovering their child is vaping, and why nicotine addiction can develop so quickly among young people. Joyce also explains how compassionate conversations, better education, and parent-led advocacy can help support youth and push for stronger policies to reduce vaping among adolescents.

Vaping Trends in Schools: An SRO's Perspective

In this podcast episode, Jake Peterson, a school resource officer (SRO) at Eastern Alamance High School in North Carolina, discusses his experiences with students engaging in vaping and e-cigarette use. Peterson emphasizes the importance of building trust with students beyond a traditional law enforcement role to effectively address and mitigate vaping incidents. The challenges faced by schools include students perceiving vaping as less harmful due to the lack of cigarette smell and colorful vape devices. Educating students and integrating anti-vaping messaging into programs like DARE are crucial strategies highlighted for prevention.

Addressing Vaping Harms Through Research and Policy

E-cigarettes were once seen as a safer alternative to smoking, but today, vaping among youth and young adults is one of the most pressing public health challenges. In this episode, we talk with Dr. Joseph Lee from Wake Forest University and Dr. Eric Soule from East Carolina University about how vaping has evolved, what drives young people to start, and what strategies are showing promise in prevention. From flavors and social influence to targeted marketing and health equity, they unpack the science and the solutions shaping the future of tobacco control. Looking to learn more about youth vaping and resources for parents, teachers, and community members? Follow NCTFG on social media! @TobaccoFreeNC on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.

From Clinic to Community: Tackling Youth Vaping Together

In this episode we talk with Dr. Jessica Young, a pediatrician and preventive medicine physician at UNC Chapel Hill. Dr. Young shares what she sees in her clinic when it comes to youth vaping, how the products have changed, common misconceptions among parents, and the serious risks to adolescent brain and lung health. She also talks about strategies pediatricians use to start conversations with teens, how families and communities can better support prevention, and what policies could help protect young people from flavored vaping products. Whether you’re a parent, educator, healthcare provider, or policymaker, this conversation offers practical insights into reducing youth nicotine use and building a tobacco-free generation in North Carolina. Looking to learn more about youth vaping and resources for parents, teachers, and community members? Follow NCTFG on social media! @TobaccoFreeNC on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.