Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health hopes to reduce teen vaping numbers

Teen vaping nearly doubled in North Dakota this past year.

Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health is hoping to reduce those numbers in 2020. The percentage of youth who vape went from 20 percent to 33 percent. Public Health attributes the increase to successful marketing by tobacco companies. Other factors that contributed to the spike include 15,000 different flavors and social media influences.

To reverse those numbers the agency has come up with a plan to target teens.

"There's a new program that came out this summer called 'My Life My Quit,' and that is geared towards vaping and tobacco use rates the counselors are trained to work with our youth they will develop a treatment plan for them. They will also receive text messages," said Susan Kahler, Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health.

The program has about a 31 percent success rate. Public health saw a drop in youth cigarette use from 12 percent down to 8.6 percent. On average it takes someone seven attempts to quick vaping or smoking. If you'd like to quit tobacco or know someone who does just go to mylifemyquit.com to sign up or call 701-355-1597.