Youth nicotine use has evolved, but remains a concern in the classroom

Walk into a middle or high school today and ask a teacher or administrator about nicotine use in the classroom, and they’ll likely show you their collection of confiscated nicotine and cannabis products — regularly seized from students. 

According to a Truth Initiative report, educators describe student nicotine use as "an everyday issue across all grades." While e-cigarettes remain the most popular nicotine product among students, oral nicotine pouches and cannabis products are raising concerns as well. 

Nicotine products are stronger, cheaper, and more accessible than ever before

Disposable vapes, now the most commonly used type of e-cigarette device, have grown bigger, stronger, and cheaper in recent years, making larger amounts of nicotine available at a lower cost. 

At the same time, flavored oral nicotine pouches from brands like Zyn, On!, and Velo have gained popularity and are now the second most popular nicotine product among young people. Oral nicotine pouches don't produce a cloud or smell, making them discreet and difficult for teachers to detect.

Helping students quit with EX Program

As educators head back to school, they face a growing landscape of discreet nicotine products. Confiscating devices treats the symptom, not the root cause, and teachers say they need current, credible resources for students.

Educators who encounter students using nicotine can direct them to EX Program, a free, evidence-based digital quit program developed by Truth Initiative with Mayo Clinic. 

EX Program provides personalized quit plans, interactive text messages, and an online community. It supports people in quitting e-cigarettes, cigarettes, oral nicotine pouches, and cannabis, and students can access it independently and confidentially.

Students can text NICBREAK to 88709 or head to exprogram.com to join for free. Added in-school resources are available for educators at: truthinitiative.org/educators

Self-guided lessons help students get the facts they need

Students and educators need resources that keep pace with the evolving nicotine market. Truth Initiative's Vaping: Know the truth curriculum is a free, self-guided course that gives students the facts they need to make informed decisions about nicotine and substance use. Used by more than 1.8 million students since 2020, the curriculum was refreshed in 2026 with new lessons and videos on e-cigarettes, nicotine pouches, cigarettes, and cannabis. Students who completed the course saw a 15% average increase in e-cigarette knowledge scores.

To learn more about the refreshed Vaping: Know the truth curriculum and access the course visit truthinitiative.org/vaping-curriculum.