Over 500 Charleston Families Equipped with Free Backpacks and Anti-vaping Resources
In a bid to support educational accessibility and combat the growing threat of youth vaping, more than 500 families in Charleston, South Carolina were the beneficiaries of an initiative orchestrated by the American Lung Association. The project, known as Backpacks for Bright Futures, saw the distribution of free backpacks filled with not only essential school supplies but also materials dedicated to preventing and educating about vaping.
The Blend of Education and Health Advocacy
The back-to-school program was held at the James Simons Montessori School, where families received an array of resources aimed at promoting lung health and discouraging vaping among youths. Margaret Ann Youngs, the development director for the Lung Association in South Carolina, revealed that the initiative was developed in response to the current challenges many families face – the escalating costs of back-to-school preparations and the increasing popularity of vaping among young individuals.
In her statement, Youngs declared, “Youth vaping has become an epidemic, driven by flavors like cotton candy, stress, anxiety, and curiosity because someone they know vapes. Research shows that youth who use e-cigarettes are four times more likely to try a cigarette and three times more likely to become addicted to nicotine.“
A Dual Campaign against Vaping and Childhood Asthma
A worrying study by the Lung Association discovered that over 13,000 children in South Carolina alone have been diagnosed with asthma, an alarming condition that has been identified as the key cause of missed school days. To battle this trend, medical professionals at the activist event offered lung health and asthma resources to families.
Aside from education against vaping and managing childhood asthma, the event provided students and their families with financial literacy resources, mental health information, hygiene kits, textured hair products, and vouchers for free haircuts. Local artist, Kyle “K’Otic” Johnson, and Miss Crystal of Sing, Play & Dance also provided entertainment.
Continued Efforts and Future Aspirations
The Backpacks for Bright Futures event was initially launched in Charleston in 2023. The primary goal of the project is to present a comprehensive approach to educating students and their families about the importance of maintaining lung health and the risks vaping poses to children and adolescents.
The event, while also servicing the community’s educational needs, acts as a strong deterrent to the rising vaping culture in the youth population. Last year, the Lung Association, alongside community partners, succeeded in distributing 250 backpacks. This year, the initiative successfully doubled its impact, reaching over 500 families with their educational and health-centric resources.
