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

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

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The use of e-cigarettes (vaping) among young people is a growing concern in Northern Ireland. More and more students are being exposed to e-cigarettes containing nicotine, cannabis/THC, and other substances.

To help tackle this issue, Northern Ireland Chest Heart & Stroke (NICHS), in partnership with Stanford University, has introduced the You and Me N.I. Vape-Free programme. This educational resource is designed to support schools in teaching children and young people about the dangers of vaping.

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.

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.

Resources

Download our NICHS Vaping Leaflet:

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