Second Chance Citations & Literature Review

The list below provides citations and source information for all images and videos featured in the Second Chance learning program. These references are included to acknowledge creators, support transparency, and offer additional context for interested users.

Welcome to our tobacco and nicotine-free school signage Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. n.d. Welcome to our tobacco and nicotine-free school. Signage image. Accessed January 20, 2026.View source
No Smoking or Vaping Within 25 Feet sign Boulder County Public Health. 2019. No Smoking or Vaping Within 25 Feet of This Entryway [sign template]. Boulder County Government. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
ELFWORLD AI22000 vape device ELFWORLD. n.d. ELFWORLD AI22000 rechargeable disposable vape pod device with battery and liquid display [product image]. ELFWORLD Vape. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
American Spirit print advertisement Trinkets & Trash. n.d. American Spirit advertisement “Freedom. to speak…” (from The Advocate, June 21, 2005 & Newsweek, July 4, 2004) [image]. Trinkets & Trash Collection. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
Strawberry Wafer Biscuit Air Bar Diamond vape Nexus Smoke. n.d. Strawberry Wafer Biscuit Air Bar Diamond Disposable Vape 500 Puff [product image]. NexusSmoke. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
ZYN Rewards illustration SnusCentral. 2025. Image: ZYN Rewards. In ZYN Rewards 101 — Prizes, Rules, Redemption. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
IJOY Uranus Mate vape device IJOY. n.d. IJOY Uranus Mate Disposable [product image]. IJOY Cig. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
HiVAP Algodón de Azúcar vape HiVAP. n.d. HiVAP “Algodón de Azúcar (Cotton Candy)” disposable vape, zero nicotine. Promotional product image.View source
Maximo Mayoreo product image Maximo Mayoreo. n.d. Product image. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
Shopify promotional graphic Shopify (store). n.d. Promotional graphic of product. Image. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
Rappi vape rechargeable sabor S Rappi. n.d. Vape rechargeable 15000 puffs sabor S [product image]. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
Pod desechable Magic vape GoMarizStore. n.d. Pod desechable Magic 400 puffs [product image]. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
STIIK disposable vape promotional image STIIK. n.d. STIIK disposable vape pen – nuevos sabores disponibles. Promotional product image.View source
MyLifeMyQuit promotional materials image Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. n.d. Free promotional materials from MyLifeMyQuit [web page image]. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
MyLifeMyQuit promotional materials image alternate Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment. n.d. Free promotional materials from MyLifeMyQuit [web page image]. Accessed January 14, 2026.View source
My Life My Quit – Teen vaping and quitting support video thumbnail My Life My Quit. 2023. My Life My Quit – Teen vaping and quitting support. YouTube video, 3:14. July 26, 2023.View source

Literature Review: Designing Youth Health Programs for Tobacco and Nicotine Use Prevention

Executive Summary

This summary of literature synthesizes evidence-based best practices for designing health programs for preventing tobacco and nicotine use among at-risk youth. With increasing concerns about e-cigarette and flavored nicotine product use among adolescents, the summary identifies key strategies across various domains, including advocacy, education, family involvement, and school-based interventions. Findings indicate that multi-component programs incorporating youth empowerment, regulatory measures, and culturally tailored approaches are most effective. Additionally, addressing disparities in tobacco use and ensuring equitable access to prevention resources is critical.

Purpose

The purpose of this summary is to inform the development of a comprehensive youth health program designed to prevent tobacco and nicotine use. The target population includes at-risk youth, particularly those in marginalized communities, and their caregivers. This summary will provide the program team with evidence-based strategies to guide program design and implementation.

Methods

The literature review was conducted using Advanced Google Scholar. Search terms included tobacco, youth, schools, education, prevention, programs, adolescents, tobacco use, nicotine prevention, vaping, health program design, intervention methods, best practices, refusal skills, public health models and Bolean operators were used to supply various combinations of search inquiries. The search was limited to peer-reviewed, English-language articles published between 2014 and 2024. A total of 87 potentially useful studies were identified, and studies were screened through a review of titles and abstracts. This resulted in 46 articles identified as relevant to the topic of interest.

Findings

Theme 1: Comprehensive Multi-Component Programs

Effective youth tobacco prevention programs integrate multiple components, including education, policy advocacy, and community involvement (Ickes et al., 2020; Prokhorov et al., 2016; DiGiulio et al., 2024; Kreslake & Diaz, 2022). Multi-level approaches that address environmental, social, and individual factors, such as the CATCH My Breath program and the ASPIRE digital intervention developed by the National Cancer Institute, have demonstrated efficacy in preventing youth tobacco use (Prokhorov et al., 2016; Tremblay et al., 2020). Multi-faceted approaches combining school-based education with regulatory measures have shown significant reductions in youth tobacco use (Reiter et al., 2024; Cullen et al., 2018; DiGiulio et al., 2024; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021). Programs like LifeSkills Training (LST) provide evidence that addressing life skills alongside substance use education can reduce initiation rates (Ickes et al., 2020; Kreslake & Diaz, 2022; Tremblay et al., 2020).

Theme 2: School-Based Interventions

Schools are ideal settings for delivering tobacco prevention programs (Prokhorov et al., 2016). Evidence from multiple studies highlights that integrating curricula like Project ALERT and enforcing comprehensive smoke-free policies significantly reduce tobacco use among students (Birdsey et al., 2023; Cullen et al., 2018; Colorado Rev. Stat. §25-14-103.5, 2022). The integration of evidence-based curricula and supportive school policies has demonstrated positive outcomes (Birdsey et al., 2023; DiGiulio et al., 2024; Kreslake & Diaz, 2022; Prokhorov et al., 2016). Programs that include cessation support, such as the INDEPTH® model, offer students resources for quitting nicotine products (American Lung Association, 2024). Additionally, policies prohibiting tobacco use on school grounds, combined with clear enforcement mechanisms, contribute to creating a tobacco-free environment (Colorado Rev. Stat. §25-14-103.5, 2022).

Theme 3: Family and Community Engagement

Family dynamics and community environments significantly influence youth tobacco use. Programs such as the Tobacco-Free Ambassador Partnership in Appalachian communities and interventions involving parental engagement have shown that creating supportive home and community environments is critical to reducing youth initiation rates (Ickes et al., 2020; Prokhorov et al., 2016). Interventions that involve parents and caregivers in prevention efforts are more likely to succeed (Prokhorov et al., 2016). The implementation of home smoking bans and parental education on the risks of secondhand and thirdhand smoke has been linked to lower youth initiation rates (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024; Prokhorov et al., 2016). Community-driven approaches, such as Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), foster youth empowerment and community-specific solutions (Valdez et al., 2020).

Theme 4: Addressing Flavored Tobacco Products and Marketing

The appeal of flavored tobacco products remains a significant challenge in youth tobacco prevention (Birdsey et al., 2023; Cooper et al., 2022; Jamal et al., 2024; Park-Lee et al., 2024; Prokhorov et al., 2016; VanFrank et al., 2024). Reports from the National Youth Tobacco Survey reveal that over 80% of youth who use e-cigarettes report using flavored varieties, underscoring the need for stringent flavor bans and marketing restrictions to curb their appeal (Cullen et al., 2019; Birdsey et al., 2023; Peiper et al., 2020). Studies indicate that flavored products are often the entry point for youth experimenting with tobacco (Birdsey et al., 2023; Cullen et al., 2019). Advocacy for flavor bans and stricter marketing regulations targeting youth are critical components of effective prevention strategies (Cullen et al., 2018; Reiter et al., 2024; VanFrank et al., 2024).

Theme 5: Equity and Culturally Tailored Programs

Addressing health disparities in tobacco use is crucial for equitable program outcomes (Ayers, Allem, Sussman, & Unger, 2017; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). LGBTQ+ youth and racial/ethnic minorities are disproportionately targeted by tobacco marketing, making culturally tailored interventions and policy advocacy essential for reducing these disparities (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024; Valdez et al., 2020; Ayers et al., 2017). Programs targeting LGBTQ+ youth and racial/ethnic minorities should incorporate culturally relevant materials and strategies (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2024). Tailoring interventions to meet the specific needs of marginalized groups can enhance engagement and effectiveness (Ayers, Allem, Sussman, & Unger, 2017; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2021; VanFrank et al., 2024).

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