Youth Tobacco Prevention and Control Program

Text-to-Quit Vaping Service

Youth and young adults who want to quit vaping are invited to text DITCHVAPE to 88709 to sign up for a totally free, anonymous texting service that provides 24/7 support, daily tips and motivation to keep you focused on your end goal. This service incorporates messages from young people who have attempted to quit, or successfully quit, e-cigarettes. Our messages show the real side of quitting, both the good and the bad, and recommend evidence-based tips and strategies to help you quit.

DITCHVAPE is part of This is Quitting, the text-to-quit vaping service that offers free, anonymous support for those seeking to quit vaping. Visit Truth Initiative to learn more about the This is Quitting campaign.

Alabama Tobacco Quitline

The Alabama Quitline is a toll-free, telephone-based tobacco cessation service (1-800 Quit Now or 1-800-784-8669) for all Alabama residents that provides free counseling to callers enrolled in the program. Services are also available at QuitNowAlabama.com, or you can text QUIT to 205-900-2550.

Visit Youth Quitline Materials for free print materials that promote the Alabama Quitline.

Alabama You Choose on Facebook

The Youth Tobacco Program has a Facebook fan page just for teens. It is a great place for teens to find out about the Alabama Tobacco Quitline.

• Alabama You Choose - Facebook

Red Ribbon Week

The Red Ribbon Campaign is the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the nation reaching millions of young people during Red Ribbon Week, October 23-October 31 each year. The campaign launched in 1985 in response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena. Since then, parents and youth across the country have begun wearing Red Ribbons as a way to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America. Visit the National Family Partnership to learn more about Red Ribbon Week.

National Youth Tobacco Survey

• According to the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS), more than 2.5 million U.S. middle and high school students --- about 1 in 10 --- reported current (past 30-day) use of e-cigarettes.
• According to the 2021 National Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS), 9.3 percent of students reported current (past 30-day) use of a tobacco product: 13.4 percent of high school students (approximately 2.06 million) and 4 percent (approximately 4.0 percent) of middle school students surveyed.

FDA Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan

FDA's Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan is a series of actions to stop youth use of tobacco products, especially e-cigarettes, with special focus on three key areas:

• Preventing youth access to tobacco products
• Curbing marketing of tobacco products aimed at youth; and
• Educating teens about the dangers of using any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, as well as educating retailers about their key role in protecting youth

For more information, visit the FDA Youth Tobacco Prevention Plan.

Tobacco Facts and Other Information

• The State of Youth Tobacco Prevention and Control Spending in Alabama: Struggles, Consequences, and Solutions
• Tobacco News and Information
• The Toll of Tobacco Fact Sheet
• ASH Publications

Helpful Links

• American Cancer Society
• American Lung Association
• Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
• Foundation for Smoke-Free America
• Great American Smokeout
• Red Ribbon Campaign
• Take Down Tobacco
• Truth Inititative
• WhyQuit
• World No Tobacco Day