Last week, AHVI participated in the 2024 Alaska School Safety & Well-Being Summit, an annual event that brings together educators, staff, and decision-makers across Alaska to address critical issues impacting student safety and well-being. AHVI’s commitment to cardiovascular health extends beyond clinical care, encompassing preventative measures to safeguard the health of future generations.

Our very own Dr. Quinn led a session at the summit titled Protecting Our Students: Understanding the Harms of Tobacco and Vaping and Youth Nicotine Use, Impacts on Mental Health, and Ways to Help. In this session, Dr. Quinn emphasized the dangerous effects of smoking, vaping, and nicotine use on youth, explaining how these habits increase the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and other health complications.

Tobacco use remains one of the leading causes of preventable disease and death, contributing to approximately 480,000 deaths annually in the United States, with 35% of those deaths related to cardiovascular disease. Preventing youth from forming tobacco and vaping habits is essential to protecting their long-term health and quality of life.

As Dr. Quinn shared during the summit, parents play a vital role in steering their children away from tobacco and nicotine use. Here are some of the strategies discussed to help parents guide their children:

• Maintain a Dialogue: Start conversations early, be open and honest, and continue discussing tobacco and vaping as your child grows.
• Think Beyond Cigarettes: Educate children on the dangers of smokeless tobacco, hookah, and e-cigarettes, including the risk of nicotine addiction.
• Prepare for Peer Pressure: Help your child develop responses to refuse cigarettes or e-cigarettes when offered by friends.
• Set a Good Example: If you smoke or vape, quitting is the best thing you can do for your and your child’s health. At the very least, refrain from smoking in their presence.
• Establish a Smoke-Free Household: Make your home and car smoke-free zones and ensure that places where your child spends time are also tobacco-free.

AHVI remains dedicated to promoting cardiovascular health for all Alaskans, including by raising awareness of the dangers of tobacco and vaping for our youth. The institute’s sponsorship of Live Fierce, End Tobacco and Vaping underscores its commitment to this cause.

For more information on the impacts of smoking, vaping, and tobacco use, visit the American Heart Association’s website.