Student PSA Project | Spring 2026
Vaping
Did you know nearly 90% of people who smoke every day started before the age of 18?
Nicotine addiction often begins during adolescence, and vaping is putting a new generation at risk for lifelong dependence.
For more than a decade, vapes have been the most used tobacco product among youth. Most vapes contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes, and some contain even more. Because nicotine is highly addictive, many young people who experiment with vaping continue using it long term. In fact, more than 40% of middle and high school students who have tried vaping are still vaping today.
Nicotine is especially dangerous for adolescents because it disrupts healthy brain development, damaging areas responsible for attention, learning, mood, and impulse control. Some of these changes may have lasting effects.
If you know a teen or adolescent who vapes, support is available to help them quit. You can support their quit journey with these resources:
- This is Quitting:
- Smokefree Teen:
- Georgia Tobacco Quitline 鈥� Live Vape Free:
The goal of this semester鈥檚 project is to persuade someone to not try vaping or to quit.
Category:Excellence in Social ImpactExcellence in Writing & StorytellingExcellence in EditingOverall Excellence
Excellence in Social Impact
"Gone in a Puff of Smoke" | Cadence Bays
Excellence in Social Impact Award Winner
Excellence in Writing & Storytelling
Winner: "Red Flags" | De'Avion Cave
Excellence in Writing and Storytelling Award
Honorable Mention: 鈥淰aping at What Cost鈥� | Christine O鈥橫eara
Honorable Mention Excellence in Writing and Storytelling.
Excellence in Editing
Winner: 鈥淲hy Start?鈥� | Jacob Gess & Chapman Murphey
Excellence in Editing Award
Overall Excellence
Winner: "Lungs of Rubber"| Madison Broadwater & Ana Winters
Overall Excellence Award