SAP Bulletin 9: Underage Tobacco Use

Student Assistance Programs: Helping to Close the Achievement Gap

Background

The health of California’s youth is critical to our state’s future. According to the most recent data, 7.3 percent of California youth in high schools reported currently using vaping products (California Youth Tobacco Survey 2023 Results). Many of these young people will become addicted and suffer long-term health problems.

Not only has adolescent nicotine exposure long-lasting effects into adulthood, but it also has unique effects on adolescent brains and causes deficits in cognitive functions and emotional dysregulations (Leslie, 2020). For 11th graders, compared to seven percent who vape but do not experience chronic sadness, the percentage doubled for those who vape and reported experiencing chronic sadness (Austin et al, 2021).

In addition, Students who use tobacco products are more likely to use alcohol and other drugs, be involved in violence and gangs, and experience a decline in academic success.

How a Student Assistance Program Can Help

Student Assistance Programs (SAPs) help students by informing them about the damage of tobacco use to youth development and offer direct services and resources to educate and support them not to use tobacco and other substances such as marijuana.

The state SAP also collects local program performance data and student survey data to drive student tobacco use prevention, intervention, and cessation services design and assessment. The student survey data is made publicly available to all local educational agencies and community groups in their program development.

Additional Information

Eliminating Tobacco-Related Disease and Death: Addressing Disparities, a Report of the U.S. Surgeon General

Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) Resources:

• TUPE Resources
• California Healthy Kids Survey
• TUPE Grant Applications
• Guidance on Diagnostic and Formative Assessments
• Immunization Requirements

Tobacco Use Prevention Education Funding Resources: