Nicotine use among teens is evolving fast, from sleek disposables to discreet pouches (snus). But the solution isn’t stronger rules or scare tactics. It’s connection, insight, and reframing. In this interactive session, Prevention Specialist Diana Hu McDowell introduces the C.A.R.E.S. Framework, a research-driven and compassionate approach to reducing student nicotine use.
Schools and teachers can work together to:
Correct misperceptions about how common nicotine use really is
Address underlying reasons for use (stress, fun, curiosity, access, peers etc.)
Reveal how nicotine rewires the brain and behavior
Intervene Early and empathetically
Strengthen collaboration across staff, students, and families
The result? A whole-school approach that replaces punishment with understanding, and empowers students to choose health and agency over habit.
