A group of local high school and middle school students recently completed participation in a youth tobacco prevention initiative focused on media literacy, vaping awareness and youth leadership through a partnership between Healthy Archuleta, Pagosa Springs schools and the Archuleta County Public Health Department.
During this past academic year, students participated in interactive workshops exploring how tobacco and vaping companies target youth through social media, flavors, influencer culture, product design and online advertising. Rather than relying solely on traditional lectures, the program encouraged students to critically examine how marketing and peer influence shape decision-making among young people.
Middle school students participated in a six-week media literacy curriculum focused on influencer marketing, healthy habits and vaping culture, while high school students engaged in a design-thinking process examining the social pressures and community factors contributing to youth vaping.
Students also developed anti-vaping campaign materials and prevention posters that were publicly displayed during the Archuleta Food Summit, where they engaged community members in conversations about vaping prevention, social media influence and healthy decision-making.
Program facilitators shared that many students were surprised to learn how intentionally vaping products are marketed toward younger audiences through colors, flavors, product design and online algorithms. Students also expressed frustration about the role social media and influencer culture play in normalizing nicotine use among youth.
Healthy Archuleta implemented the initiative using a youth-adult partnership model that included a young adult staff member, youth intern, youth engagement consultant, and support from public health and school partners.
Weekly sessions emphasized relationship-building, creativity, dialogue and critical thinking while creating welcoming spaces for youth participation and campaign input.
Healthy Archuleta hopes to continue expanding youth tobacco prevention efforts through additional school partnerships, peer-led leadership opportunities, parent education and expanded youth engagement programming focused on media literacy, forming healthy habits and healthy decision-making.
During the first year of this work, youth consistently identified the need for safe and welcoming “third spaces” outside of school and home where they could gather, build relationships and participate in positive community activities.
Through the current Archuleta Community Food Hub project, Healthy Archuleta will work alongside youth and community members to help design the food hub as a community-centered space that supports youth connection, belonging, leadership and prevention-focused programming in Archuleta County.
For more information about the food hub project and opportunities to get involved, visit our website, www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/community-food-hub.html.
For more information on youth prevention efforts, visit www.foodcoalition4archuleta.org/youth-prevention.html or email fsfearchuleta@gmail.com to learn more about our work supporting youth, health and food systems in our community.
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