Embedded Files
Join our e-mail list for resources, family workshops and more.
What is Tobacco Use Prevention Education? (TUPE)
The vape industry heavily markets to youth with their colorful designs and candy-like flavors. It is critical to stay informed about youth vaping trends, what devices students are smoking, what the health effects are, and how to take preventative measures against youth vaping. EGUSD receives funding from the state's Tobacco Use Prevention Education (TUPE) grant to aid in efforts to prevent smoking and vaping.
In EGUSD, we have smoking/vaping prevention curriculum adopted in Grade 6 and Grades 7-8 PE. Students learn about the harms of vaping, the smoke industry's marketing tactics, and healthy ways to cope with stress and anxiety.
✳️ Staff needing assistance with the prevention curriculum can contact Program
Specialist, Larrah Feliciano.
Parents & caregivers, please see our tip sheet below on how to openly (and frequently) discuss smoking/vaping prevention with your child.
EGUSD STAFF: Sign-up for our PDs on PL Essentials!
How do we address it?
Professional Development
Student Brief Intervention
Student and parent/caregiver engagement workshops
Event tabling
Brief Intervention
Our brief intervention is designed for students who are experiencing mild to moderate problems at school or at home associated with smoking and vaping. This is a non-punitive and judgment-free intervention. We are here to help youth quit.
Professional Development
We provide a variety of courses to our staff to ensure safe, inclusive, and supportive learning environments. EGUSD staff, please keep a lookout in PL Essentials for available workshops.
Student and Parent/Caregiver Engagement
YDO holds workshops for EGUSD parents and guardians on the dangers of smoking and vaping. These workshops bring awareness to the risks and provide helpful tips on talking to their children and resources to help their student make healthier choices.
Events and Resources
Through collaboration with our schools and liaisons, we provide valuable information regarding smoking and vaping risks to students 6th-12th during school events and resource fairs. If you would like for us to table at your EGUSD school event, please click on the More Information button.
For upcoming workshops please check out our Media & Events Page
Parent/Guardian tips: How to Talk to Your Kids About Vaping
Use your knowledge about the drug and educate your child/children on what effects it has on the body and brain. Research shows that the "Just say no" approach and using scare tactics do not work well to deter young people from vaping.
Watch informational videos together.
Review "Parent Guide: What you need to know about vaping" from Partnership to End Addiction together
Talk about how choosing to use these products or not is an important decision for young people.
Explain how important it is for young people to make informed decisions that will lead to positive physical and mental health.
Connect with them: ask how they're doing, initiate a safe dialogue, and validate their experiences.
Remind them how much they are loved and how much you want them to lead long, healthy, happy lives.
Remind students of their goals. For example, if a student is really passionate about running track, you can tell them how smoking might affect that goal and their health -- it could affect their lung capacity and make it harder to breathe, and they might get kicked off the team if they use drugs.
Focus on mental wellness rather than addiction. Talk about ways to cope with stress and anxiety.
Brief Intervention
What is Brief Intervention?
Brief Intervention (BI) is a short-term program that consists of three to four meetings with a trained YDO support staff, geared for young people who use tobacco or vaping products in experimental or mild-moderate stages of use. This approach uses motivational interviewing, cognitive behavior therapy, and the stages of change model to meet the needs of adolescents. Brief Intervention can be an alternative to suspension.
EGUSD staff and parents/caregivers can refer students to YDO for Brief Intervention. This is a judgment-free program aimed at helping students quit. Students may even refer themselves if they need help quitting!
To learn more about Brief Intervention, click on the "Learn more" button to the right.
Effects of Marijuana
Just like nicotine vape products, cannabis oil in a vape pen is not "vaporized" -- it is actually aerosolized.
It takes 5-10 seconds for the THC to reach the brain and the effects can be felt within minutes. The high lasts for about 30 minutes to several hours.
To the left is an infographic listing physical effects, short term effects, and long term effects of marijuana on the mind and body of youth.
As an added resource, please see "Marijuana: The Risks Are Real"-- a resource put together by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA).
Dangers of Fentanyl
Please see the US Drug Enforcement Administration's website for more information about the dangers of fentanyl.
California Healthy Kids Survey
The California Healthy Kids Survey (CHKS) is an anonymous survey administered in EGUSD (and statewide) every two years. As a TUPE-funded district, EGUSD is required to administer this survey to students in grades 5, 7, 9, and 11. YDO assists administrators district-wide in conducting this survey, as the results tell us important data about students' wellbeing and needs. Students' responses are confidential. The next survey date is fall of 2025, with results expected by spring of 2026. For more information about CHKS, please see the CDE's website.
2025 Red Ribbon Week Theme.pdfYouth Pledge 2025.pdfRed Ribbon Week
What is Red Ribbon Week?
Red Ribbon Week highlights the importance of living a drug-free life for both youth and adults. The Red Ribbon campaign promotes education on substance misuse and encourages participation in drug prevention activities.
When is Red Ribbon Week?
Red Ribbon Week is celebrated annually from October 23-31.
What happens during Red Ribbon Week?
Youth and adults around the nation make a pledge to learn more about the destructive effects of drug misuse and renew their commitment to live a healthy, drug-free lifestyle. To show this commitment, many wear red or display the red ribbon.
Red Ribbon Week Pledge
Please print and sign the pledge to the Left!
To encourage this commitment to living a healthy lifestyle and continuing to learn about the dangers of drug misuse, please print and sign the pledge (to the left) for your students and youth. You may click on the link below to access the PDF in order to print copies of the pledge.
Sources:
Red Ribbon Website: RedRibbon.org
United States Drug Enforcement Administration: DEA.gov/redribbon
Resources
Cessation Cards
Quitting substance misuse is difficult, but you are not alone.
See resources below for smoking and vaping cessation assistance, or click the link to download Cessation Cards PDF
Report abuse