Parents & Guardians - You & Me N.I. Vape Free

About the Programme

The curriculum is part of Stanford University’s internationally recognised Tobacco Prevention Toolkit and has been carefully adapted for Northern Ireland. Local young people, teachers, parents, scientists, and healthcare professionals all contributed to making sure the programme is relevant and effective for pupils here.

The programme is tailored for different age groups:

• Primary Schools – 2 lessons
• Post-Primary Schools (Years 8–10) – 6 lessons
• Post-Primary Schools (Years 11–14) – 6 lessons

The You and Me N.I. Vape-Free curriculum includes six engaging lessons with interactive activities, online quizzes, worksheets, and presentations. It addresses key factors influencing youth vaping, such as:

• Misconceptions about e-cigarettes
• The appeal of flavours and social media
• Stress, anxiety, and coping strategies
• Building refusal skills and resilience

What Students Will Learn

The overall aim of You and Me N.I. Vape-Free is to prevent and reduce e-cigarette use among young people. Through the programme, pupils will:

• Increase their knowledge about e-cigarettes and the harms they can cause.
• Understand how e-cigarette companies use marketing strategies to target young people.
• Build confidence and skills to resist peer pressure and avoid vaping.
• Signposting to support if they are already vaping and wish to quit.
• Ultimately, reduce and prevent the use of all types of e-cigarettes, including those with nicotine, cannabis/THC, and non-nicotine products.

This age-appropriate programme supports all students—those who have never vaped, those who are curious, and those who may already be experimenting.

Parents Leaflets

We’ve developed these information leaflets to help you understand what your child or teenager is learning in school. They’re designed to:

• Give you insight into the topics being taught.
• Support open and informed conversations at home.
• Strengthen the partnership between school and home in promoting your child’s health and wellbeing.

By knowing what’s being covered in the classroom, you’ll be better equipped to reinforce key messages, answer questions, and guide your child/teenager through important issues in a supportive way.

How Parents and Guardians Can Help

We believe that prevention works best when schools, families, and communities work together.

Research shows that teens who learn about the risks of substance use at home are significantly less likely to use them. That’s why this curriculum also includes optional discussion guides to help parents and guardians have open, supportive conversations with their children. These guides are designed to encourage listening, understanding, and connection—not judgment.

Becoming a Trusted Adult: Foundations for More Effective Drug Education

Talking to teens about substance use is hard — but how we talk to them matters.

Developed by the Stanford REACH Lab and the Stanford Center for Health Education, this free 10-lesson course teaches adults how to move beyond scare tactics and "just say no." Instead, learn how to build trust and have honest, two-way conversations that actually make a difference.

Designed for educators, parents, coaches, counsellors, and anyone who supports youth aged 11–19.

Some skills you will learn during this course include the following:

• Recognise signs of substance use
• Use motivational interviewing
• Support teens in cutting back or quitting
• Personalise your approach using evidence-based tool

Find out more: Educational Videos | Halpern-Felsher REACH Lab | Stanford Medicine

Resources

Download our NICHS Vaping Leaflet: