Tobacco Use Prevention & Cessation

Nic-Sick or Nicotine Overdose is caused by excessive consumption of nicotine.  

Symptoms include:  

• Nausea or vomiting 
• Stomachache and loss of appetite 
• Increased heart rate and blood pressure 
• Headache 
• Mouth watering 
• Quick, heavy breathing 
• Dizziness or tremors 
• Confusion and anxiety 
• And more 

Popcorn Lung or Bronchiolitis Obliterans is a serious lung disease that causes scarring of the tiny air sacs in the lungs resulting in the thickening and narrowing of the airways 

Symptoms include: 

• Coughing  
• Wheezing  
• Shortness of breath 

E-cigarette or Vaping Product Use-Associated Lung Injury (EVULI) first identified in 2019, is an acute or subacute respiratory illness and can be fatal.  

Symptoms include:  

• Shortness of breath 
• Fever 
• Cough 
• Vomiting 
• Diarrhea 
• Headache 
• Dizziness 
• Chest pain 
• Rapid heart rate 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) found that 2.25 million middle and high school students reported current use (use on one or more days during the past 30 days) of any tobacco product. The top three tobacco products used by these students were e-cigarettes/vapes, nicotine pouches, and cigarettes. These same tobacco products are used widespread among youth in Howard County. In 2022, 4.6% of middle school students and 15.7% of high school students had ever used an electronic vapor product. Use among females is higher than males in both middle school and high school students.  

It is never too early to begin teaching children about the dangers of tobacco/nicotine use.  

Emerging Tobacco/Nicotine Products 

• E-Cigarettes/Vapes 
  • Printable popular vaping terms and devices report 

• “Tobacco-Free” Synthetic Nicotine 
  • Research article 

• Disposable E-cigarettes with Synthetic Nicotine 

• Oral Nicotine Pouches 
  • Printable oral nicotine pouch infographic 

• Smart Vapes 

Additional Information 

For Parents and Caregivers 

• Parents Against Vaping e-cigarettes (PAVe) 
• E-Cigarettes & Vaping: What Parents Should Know  
• Tens Signs Your Child Is Vaping 
• PAVe Educates: Talking to Your Child About Vaping  
• Would You Recognize Popular Vapes? 

For Youth 

• Teen Health Matters 
• Truth Initiative Fact Sheets 

Videos  

• Dangers of Vaping | Nicotine = Brain Poison 
• Black Lives / Black Lungs 
• Nic Sick: The Dangers of Youth Vaping  

The Tobacco Prevention and Cessation program staff are available to attend events, offer resources and provide information regarding tobacco and vaping to individuals and groups. You can request program staff by choosing the Tobacco and Cannabis Smoking/Vaping Use Prevention and Quitting Resources option on the Community Health Education Request Form below.  

• Please complete the Community Health Education Request Form at least one (1) month prior to the event date.  

• If this form is completed one (1) month prior to the event, we will contact you to confirm or decline participation within five (5) business days.  

• If this form is completed more than one (1) month in advance of the event, we will contact you to confirm or decline participation thirty (30) days before the event.  

• If this form is completed less than one (1) month prior to the event, we may be able to offer HCHD program materials in lieu of HCHD staff participation.