The UAB Lung Health Center has received a grant from the Alabama Department of Public Health to support smoking and vaping prevention efforts among middle and high school students in the Birmingham area. Gabriela Oates, Ph.D., director of population health science at the Lung Health Center, will serve as the principal investigator for the project, titled "Healthy Communities for a Tobacco-Free Future," which will launch in October 2024.

Tobacco use remains the leading preventable cause of death and disease, and Alabama youth are more likely than their peers across the U.S. to use tobacco products. Nearly 1 in 5 Alabama teens reported vaping in the past month. The initiative will target five school systems—Birmingham City, Blount County, Homewood City, Hoover City, and Jefferson County—to reduce the use of electronic cigarettes and other tobacco products.

The project will promote comprehensive smoke-free school policies, conduct point-of-sale assessments to restrict access to e-cigarettes, and limit youth exposure to tobacco marketing. Educational presentations, peer-to-peer training, and social media campaigns will equip students with tools to resist peer pressure and shift social norms around vaping. Community events will engage families and local residents in discussions about tobacco use.

For more information on the ADPH Youth Tobacco Prevention Program, visit www.alabamapublichealth.gov/tobacco/youth-prevention.html. To get involved with Healthy Communities for a Tobacco-Free Future, contact Robin Geurs at rbgeurs@uabmc.edu.