Lab Rat Campaign

Lab Rat Campaign

In the spring of 2022 Dover Youth to Youth unveiled the Lab Rat Campaign.

Quitting Resources

Vapes are addictive but you can quit. There are a variety of programs to help teens and a list a recommended programs on our resource page.

Project Description

The Lab Rat campaign is designed to make youth aware of the manipulative tactics of the vape and e-cigarette industry. The campaign implies that the vape industry treats teens as lab rats. The industry has no concern for their health and will do anything to get them addicted so they can make money.

Posters

The Lab Rat campaign began with a series of posters that were hung in local schools. There were 6 different posters highlighting a variety of different facts about vaping. 

Know the Facts:

ADDICTION: The more you vape, the more your brain and body get used to having nicotine, and the harder it is to go without it. When you go without vaping, the nicotine level in your bloodstream drops, which may cause unpleasant feelings, physical symptoms, and strong urges to vape. This is nicotine addiction.
Source: SmokeFree.gov

UNKNOWN CONSEQUENCES: Scientists are still learning about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes. The aerosol that users inhale and exhale from e-cigarettes can expose both themselves and bystanders to harmful substances.
Source: CDC

CANDY FLAVORS: Flavors play an important role in addicting youth and young adults to tobacco products. Flavored products are easier to start and more difficult to quit. While the Food and Drug Administration could remove flavored tobacco products, it has not taken action.
Source: Truth Initiative

HIDING CHEMICALS: E-cigarettes, aka JUULs and vape pens, use a battery to heat up a special liquid into an aerosol that users inhale. It’s not just harmless water vapor. The “e-juice” that fills the cartridges usually contains nicotine (which is extracted from tobacco), propylene glycol, flavorings and other chemicals. Studies have found that even e-cigarettes claiming to be nicotine-free contain trace amounts of nicotine. Additionally, when the e-liquid heats up, more toxic chemicals are formed.
Source: American Lung Association

MENTAL HEALTH: Vapes contain toxic chemicals that can affect the nervous system and may potentially contribute to the observed association between vapes and depression.
Source: Truth Initiative

To Learn More about E-Cigarettes and Vaping

• Breathe New Hampshire – Electronic Cigarettes/Vaping
• NH Department of Health and Human Services, Division of Public Health Services, Bureau of Population Health and Community Services, Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program – Electronic Cigarettes
• US Surgeon General – Know the Risks: E-Cigarettes and Young People
• CDC – Electronic Cigarettes
• CDC – Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults