NICHOLASVILLE, Ky. — The most recent Kentucky Incentives for Prevention survey results found over 26% of Kentucky high school seniors reported vaping at least once within the past year.
Over 20% of sophomores, 13% of 8th grade students and 5% of 6th grade students in the Commonwealth reported doing the same. Some University of Kentucky students are hoping to change that trend through an anti-vaping education program.
The UK College of Education and Department of Kinesiology and Health promotion collaborated to create the #iCANendthetrend program with the goal of providing tobacco use prevention services to youth across the state. College students serve as tobacco-free ambassadors traveling to K-12 schools in Kentucky providing evidence-informed presentations to students.
Graduate student Gabrielle Cochran led a presentation at East Jessamine High School. She said this was probably around her 30th school visit in the year she has been involved with #iCANendthetrend.
“I’ve seen my friends and then some of my family members start vaping. I saw the impact it had on them. I just thought if I could do anything to prevent that for other people, I would love to be a part of that,” said Cochran.
The UK college-free ambassadors will facilitate over 200 presentations collectively across the state this semester alone. The program uses a peer-to-peer model in which elementary, middle, and high school students are connected with college student facilitators who are closer to their age.
“I was in high school right when it kicked off, so I saw the introduction of it to different clubs and activities. I had a few friends who tried it because it was everywhere,” said Cochran. “Coming into college, it’s a little less accepted, but it’s definitely a part of culture there too.”
#iCANendthetrend serves students all the way down to 4th grade, with the goal of informing them about vaping before they are exposed to it.
“I remember an instance in middle school when someone offered me a vape on a bus ride,” said East Jessamine High School student Makayla Kendrick. “Obviously, being myself, I said no. I learned from that point on, the consequences of kids getting vapes is more prevalent than I thought it would be.”
Kendick said the #iCANendthetrend program helped her feel more prepared to be a helpful resource for peers trying to quit vaping.
“I hope at least a few students in the group are really empowered and take what we say and want to go do something with it in their community or want to reach out to a friend that has been struggling with dependence,” said Cochran. “Maybe they themselves have been using, and hear what we are saying, and want to take those steps to quit.”
The #iCANendthetrend program hopes to expand so college students at other colleges can present at schools in their communities as well.
State Rep. Mark Hart, R-Falmouth, said he is drafting legislation to address vaping in schools for the 2023 Legislative Session. He said that during an Interim Joint Committee on Education meeting on Oct. 18. During that same meeting, lawmakers heard from Pendleton County High School instructor Brian Melton regarding the dangers of vaping. Melton said lawmakers should consider providing funding for anti-vaping education for students. It’s unclear if that would be included in the legislation Rep. Hart is currently drafting.