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A new mobile app launched by the My Life, My Quit program is giving Michigan teens easy access to resources to help them quit vaping. The technology is designed to address the surge in teen vaping and tobacco addiction.
Meeting Teens Where They Are
The app appeals to young people by using tools that teens are most comfortable with: their digital devices. It’s a much needed response to an epidemic of vape addiction dependency among adolescents. The apps provide a confidential and personalized coach right on their favorite devices.
Dr. Natasha Bagdasarian is Michigan’s chief medical executive and she notes that the new app will “meet teens where they are with tools that support quitting tobacco products.” She expressed her gratitude to program leaders for partnering with young adults to update their app’s design. “We’re excited to promote this new option to youth in Michigan,” she further stated.
The 2023 Michigan Youth Survey reported that 13.2% of surveyed teens used tobacco products. The most commonly used products were e-cigarettes, with 11.1% of youth reporting having vaped within the last 30 days.
Quitting tobacco products may be challenging but the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services emphasizes the benefits. Some benefits include spending increased quality time with loved ones as well as saving money. Quitting may take more than one attempt but there’s support for teens to help them stick with it.
Around the App
My Life, My Quit and MDHHS collaborated to provide scientifically proven, free assistance for youth ready to quit using nicotine products. The app offers access to interactive learning, custom quit plans and live coaches through phone or text. Teens’ feedback was valuable in creating the app to make it more engaging and accessible.
The app has some key features important to Gen Z. These include integration across multiple devices with the full My Life, My Quit program, goal and progress tracking tools, trained quit coaches available for live chats and reminders and motivational messages.
Combining the app’s features with other support systems makes them especially helpful. Nicotine addiction is often tied to behavioral, emotional, and mental health challenges. This is why mental health professionals play such a crucial role in helping teens quit nicotine products successfully.
Angela Thomson is the co-chair of the Huron County Recovery and Prevention Coalition and an outpatient therapist at Huron Behavioral Health. She explains, “Mental health services are essential,” because it’s not a matter of willpower.
Rather, “it’s about understanding why the behavior started and building healthier coping strategies. Therapists can help teens manage cravings, regulate emotions, and address co-occurring issues like anxiety or trauma.”
Significant Teen Vaping Statistics
Among US youth the most commonly used tobacco product is vapes according to the CDC.
The 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey’s study of US middle and high school students found that 1.63 million reported previous vape use. An additional 1.8% of American middle and high school students admitted to having used nicotine pouches.
Researchers also found that 43.6% of those 1.63 million students had continued to use vapes. Stats from students who reported currently using the products revealed that 26.3% reported using tobacco daily.
Another 38.4% said they had used e-cigarettes 20 out of the last 30 days. And a stunning 87.6% of those respondents said they used flavored e-cigarettes.
The 2024 report also revealed that more females reported current e-cigarette use than males. And 36.6% of teens who vape admitted to using more than one product.
In 2020, 63.9% of those who reported current use said they wanted to quit vaping. The percentage of those who had tried to quit in the past was 67.4%.
To connect young people with the tools they need to quit, especially in rural areas like Huron County, outreach is the key.
Thomson remarked that “Many teens have phones already, and promoting My Life, My Quit through the social media they use can make it feel more approachable and relevant. Because it’s free, confidential, and nonjudgmental, it’s a great resource for youth who might be hesitant to ask for help.”
Statewide support systems for quitting tobacco products are critical but Thomson is hopeful that the app will produce significant results at the community level.
If a young person in your life is struggling with vape addiction Rehabs.org lists affordable treatment centers with specialized programs designed to fit their needs.
Reach out today or call
800-914-7089
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