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HELENA – Superintendent Arntzen is encouraging Montana parents to discuss the dangers of vaping with their children. According to the national results of the 2021 Youth Risk Behavior Survey, Montana and Louisiana tied for the second-highest prevalence of current e-cigarette use among high school students. The use of e-cigarettes among high school students around the country shows:

• West Virginia has the highest prevalence of use at 27.5%

• Montana and Lousiana have the second-highest prevalence of use at 25.5%

• Montana high school seniors report use at 32%

• Utah has the lowest prevalence of use at 9.7%

• The national average is 18%

“My Montana Hope initiative emphasizes family and community engagement in our children’s education,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “Family engagement leads to achievements in the classroom and beyond. I encourage all Montana parents and families to utilize the resources my office offers to guide conversation on the use of e-cigarettes.”

To help Montana youth make informed choices to resist vaping, the Office of Public Instruction (OPI) offers free age-appropriate student vaping prevention presentations for grades 4 through 12. These presentations are designed to supplement and reinforce what Montana educators are already teaching their students about the harmful effects of vaping. To help meet the demand for school presentations, the OPI hopes to be hiring an additional education specialist soon.

OTHER HELPFUL RESOURCES INCLUDE:

• My Life, My Quit – A free tobacco use cessation program specifically offered for youth by the Montana Tobacco Use Prevention Program.

• Vaping Prevention and Education – Online resources for students, parents, and educators from the Food and Drug Administration.

If you'd like to inquire about classroom presentations for your school contact Kris Minard at kminard@mt.gov or 406.444.0785.