An Australian vaping education program being rolled out in schools nationally has been hailed as one of the most successful school-based strategies in the world for curbing youth e-cigarette use in a study published today in The Lancet Public Health.

Led by Dr. Lauren Gardner and Professor Nicola Newton from the Matilda Center for Research in Mental Health and Substance Use at the University of Sydney—the Vaping Prevention Program was found to reduce the likelihood of adolescent vaping by 65% a year after completing the program, compared to students who received standard health education.

“Adolescents who vape are being exposed to harmful and addictive chemicals during critical stages of brain development,” said Dr. Lauren Gardner, first author of the study and Program Lead of School-Based Health Interventions at the Matilda Center.

“This can affect the brain’s reward pathway and increase the risk of addiction to both nicotine and other substances.”

Findings from the study showed that the digital, interactive, evidence-based Our Futures Institute Vaping Prevention Program increases vaping-related knowledge and equips young people with the real-world refusal skills to say no when it matters most.

More than 80% of students rated the program positively and felt the skills and information they learned would help them in the future. Almost 90% of teachers rated the program positively.

“The OurFutures Vaping Prevention Program is the only school-based program in Australia, and one of only a few in the world, that is proven to reduce students’ likelihood of vaping,” Dr. Gardner added.

Ken Wallace, CEO of Our Futures Institute, the University of Sydney spin-out rolling out the program with the support from the Australian Government’s Department of Health and Aging, said, “Our research proves that when you give students the right tools, they make healthier choices,” Wallace said.

“Giving young people the tools to resist Big Tobacco’s predatory tactics is what world-leading public health action looks like—combining tough enforcement with proven prevention programs to protect our children’s future.”

Dr. Gardner added that there was still a massive amount of work to do to curb nicotine use among young people and stop vaping in its tracks.

“Rates of vaping among young people remain unacceptably high. Vapes can contain very high concentrations of nicotine, and vaping is an established risk factor for tobacco smoking.

“Prevention is our best shot at breaking the cycle of addiction, before it starts.”