News

You probably already know that vaping among youth has been deemed an epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General. The numbers don't lie: almost 1 in 4 eleventh graders in Iowa have vaped in the last 30 days. These numbers are scary considering how addictive vaping can be and the dangers  and risks associated with vaping.  

HOW WE CAN HELP

Get the truth about vaping, smoking and other tobacco products so you're not left in the dark when it comes to your future. If you decide you want to quit, we give you the tools you need to do it successfully. 

Tobacco comes in many forms and None of them are safe. Any amount of tobacco use can cause addiction and be harmful to your health. Understand the consequences of vaping and tobacco use, and nicotine addiction, and learn why even smoking occasionally puts you at risk. 

Nicotine & Addiction

Nicotine exposure during teen years can cause addiction and harm brain development. Learn about why nicotine is dangerous for teens.

We would like to thank all of our chapter members and advisors who attended the 2018 ISTEP Summit - Celebrate ISTEP. Celebrate YOU.

For a healthy mouth, it’s important for everyone to visit a dentist at least once a year for a check-up. I-Smile is Iowa’s dental program that helps children and teens get the regular dental care they need.  Twenty four dental hygienists work as I-Smile Coordinators around the state and their role is to educate about the importance of a healthy mouth.  They also provide dental screenings and fluoride applications, and help kids and teens find a dentist for their care. 

Today marks the start of Through With Chew Week. This year’s theme is Spitify, which ties in with the Summit theme of Tune Out Tobacco – focusing on skipping songs and movies that glamorize tobacco use.  The object of the Spitify game statewide is to compete with other schools in the state and try to get the most involvement school wide.

"Shoes" line the stairs at the Iowa Department of Public Health today, and if you attended the 2015 ISTEP Summit, yours may be among the collection. What's your story? During the month of September and throughout the year, we will share a few stories each week on social media. If you have a story to share, submit it here on our website. We also will accept mail entries of your artwork.