Local tobacco program cites statewide youth survey declines, plans school prevention and restorative classes

Shannon Giles, manager of Tobacco Prevention & Cessation for Vigo County, told the Terre Haute City Council on Aug. 7 that the 2024 Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey showed declines in youth tobacco and e-cigarette use statewide and that Vigo County is planning school-based prevention and restorative programming. "High school tobacco use dropped from 10.5 percent in 2022 to 5.8 percent in 2024. E-cigarette use also dropped significantly from 9.2 to 5 percent," Giles said. She noted nicotine pouch use among high school students rose from 2.3 percent to 5 percent and that polyuse declined from 3.2 percent to 1.5 percent. Giles reported that roughly 65 percent of middle schoolers and 53 percent of high schoolers strongly agreed that all tobacco products are dangerous and that 1 in 4 students reported exposure to secondhand smoke in the past week. Giles said the local program launched a new cigarette tax on July 1 that increased the per-pack tax by $2 and comparable percent increases on other tobacco products; she said health-care providers are already reporting more patients asking for help quitting. For the coming school year, Tobacco and Vape Free Vigo plans prevention education for all sixth- and ninth-graders and a restorative measures class for students caught with tobacco, consisting of three sessions per incident and designed to avoid criminal records when completed. Council members did not take action; Giles offered to answer questions and the council thanked her for the update.