A free online program for Texans under the age of 21 aims to provide young people with the knowledge and tools needed to break tobacco and vaping addiction, the Texas Department of State Health Services announced, in partnership with Texas State University’s Texas School Safety Center.
The Texas E-Cigarette and Tobacco Awareness Program (ETAP) comprises two courses, which can be completed in three to four hours across multiple sessions: a referral course required for Texans under 21 who have been cited for possession of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes or vapes; and a tobacco and vaping prevention course for students in grades six through 12.
The referral course replaces the former Texas Youth Tobacco Awareness Program, which was taught only via live instruction and often required a fee.
ETAP’s prevention course dovetails with Texas Medical Association policy on adolescent health and substance abuse, which encourages uniform instruction and comprehensive health education for grades kindergarten through 12 on avoidance of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana, controlled substances, and illegal drugs.
Lindy McGee, MD, chair of TMA’s Committee on Child and Adolescent Health, hopes that after taking the referral course, teens and young adults will talk to their doctors about treatment and says there are good tools available to help. She lauds ETAP’s prevention course as a proactive measure.
“We know that early use of nicotine leads to adverse outcomes, including higher rates of addiction; impacts on learning, memory, and concentration; and worse mental health outcomes,” Dr. McGee said. “If we can prevent use in the first place – that is a huge win.”
The prevention course, which schools can incorporate, educates students in grades six-12 on how they can build a vape- and tobacco-free culture in their schools. With social pressure often factoring into teens taking up a tobacco or vaping habit, Dr. McGee says, it’s imperative to “create spaces where the overwhelming social pressure is to not use these products, and that can only be done with teens themselves leading the charge.”
With the referral course meeting the requirements of Section 161.253, Texas Health and Safety Code, it functions as an alternative to punitive measures, such as school suspension or disciplinary alternative education programs, to which schools may instead, at their discretion, refer students who are in possession of tobacco products.
Dr. McGee applauds the option to use ETAP in this way, saying education is more effective than disciplinary measures for fighting nicotine addiction.
“It is unfair that, as a society, we allowed extensive marketing and distribution of highly addictive products to teens and then strictly punished them when they used the products,” said the Houston pediatrician.
Keep up with tobacco and e-cigarette news on TMA’s dedicated webpage.
Jessica Ridge
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1395