ISDH Launches "Behind The Haze" Anti-Vaping Campaign

The campaign will aim to reduce the amount of youth using vaping products.

(Indianapolis, Ind.) - The Indiana State Department of Health announced that a public awareness campaign, "Behind The Haze," will launch to educate the youth about the dangers of e-cigarettes. 

This $2 million effort is hoping to reduce the amount youth using "vaping" products. 

“The speed at which vaping is increasing among youth is alarming, and we must protect children from a lifetime of nicotine addiction,” Governor Holcomb said. “These efforts will help curb youth vaping, educate the public on health risks and provide resources to help people who want to quit.”

Since 2012, more than a 350 percent increase was seen in middle and high schools across Hoosier state during the Indiana Youth Tobacco Survery.

"Most teens don’t really know what these products contain,” Dr. Box said. “We hope that this campaign educates youth about what they could be putting into their bodies and helps protect them from the lung injuries and nicotine addiction that we are seeing across our state.”

Prevention, education and cessation are the three-part Vape-Free Indiana initiative that make up "Behind the Haze." More than 32,000 students in 52 schools are expected to be reach by convocations, featuring the "Sweet Deception" program. Details and resources can be found at vapefreeindiana.isdh.in.gov. 

Director of the Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Commission, Miranda Spitznagle, explained that the reason behind implementing this campaign is because of the success seen in other states. 

“We know that young people are more likely to pay attention to a message designed to change their behaviors when it’s delivered by their peers,” Spitznagle said. “This campaign speaks to youth in clear, no-nonsense language and will reach them on media platforms that they’re most likely to use, like Instagram and Facebook.”

The ISDH continues to investigate the vaping-related 104 injuries and 4 deaths. To learn more about these injuries and deaths, you can visit https://www.in.gov/isdh/28337.htm.