A Hastings Middle School eighth grader was an award winner in the Minnesota Department of Health’s Escape the Vape Video Challenge.
The Escape the Vape Video Challenge, now in its fourth year, had over 500 students from 38 Minnesota schools creating 30-second videos to educate their peers on the dangers of vaping.
James Jensen’s entry took third place overall in the Middle School Division. His video was entitled, “The Possessing Truths About Vaping.”
Jensen’s and other winning videos can be seen at https://www.mnescapethevape.org/2024-winners
Though illegal, underage youth vaping continues to be a problem in Minnesota with 14% of 11th graders and 6% of eighth graders reporting e-cigarette use during the last 30 days, according to the 2022 Minnesota Student Survey.
No amount of nicotine is safe for youth as it is highly addictive and can be toxic. Because the adolescent brain is still developing until about age 25, youth nicotine exposure can increase the risk of addiction to commercial tobacco products and other substances in the future. Nicotine dependence can also lead to poor mental health by worsening symptoms of stress, anxiety and depression.
“When it comes to youth vaping prevention, peer-to-peer education can be an important tool,” said Maria Sarabia, MDH assistant commissioner. “It’s so important to create space for youth to step up and use their creativity to educate their peers.”
Minnesota students acted through the contest, submitting 232 entries. Middle and high school students served as judges and helped select the 14 finalists. Public voting opened on April 30, and closed May 6. Nearly 1,400 votes were cast to choose the winners for each division. Each first-place winning video will be awarded a $500 cash prize. Their schools will also each receive $500.
To help young people quit, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) offers My Life, My Quit™, which supports Minnesota teens ages 13-17 in quitting commercial tobacco and nicotine, including vaping. The program is free and confidential. Teens can text to chat with a coach, engage in coaching calls and online chat, and receive youth-specific materials. Teens should text “Start My Quit” to 36072 or visit My Life, My Quit.
Escape the Vape is made possible by MDH in partnership with Masonic Cancer Center at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Orthopedics and Oxboro Family Chiropractic.