The Expand Project Launch: Smoking Cessation for Queer and Trans Young Adults

The Ontario Tobacco Research Unit (OTRU) and the Canadian Cancer Society (CCS) have launched The Expand Project, a social marketing campaign and research initiative to address smoking (and vaping) among queer and trans young adults in Toronto, Thunder Bay and Montreal. This newsletter describes the launch of the campaign and research findings after the first two years of development.. Read more…

Helping Youth Quit Vaping: OTRU’s New Mobile-friendly Solutions

As the prevalence of e-cigarette use, or vaping, continues to grow, particularly among young people, so does the need for research and interventions to address vaping. OTRU, with funding from Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program, has developed three new innovative programs that were co-designed with youth who are interested in quitting vaping. OTRU’s recent webinar described the process of development and launch these new interventions:

Nod from 2050 is a website that encourages youth to reflect on their long-term goals with respect to vaping nicotine. It was derived from a futurist workshop called Postcards from the Future. It is informed by research on specific techniques associated with higher success in successful behavior change, including supporting identity change and developing a vivid mental image of becoming an ex-vaper. It is a visually aesthetic platform designed to appeal to youth. To experience it for yourself, visit the website.

Stop Vaping Challenge is an app that provides a venue for youth to reflect on their vaping behaviours and patterns in a fun, social way that encourages quitting with friends. The concept of a challenge is derived from an “abstinence challenge” wherein youth are encouraged to try to stop vaping for as long as they can with the help of a timer within the app tracking seconds, minutes, and hours. This can be a highly revealing experience. Key features of the app include a dedicated tab for inviting friends, tracking mood and cravings, recording photo and video memories, and finding appropriate local resources on quitting vaping. Additionally, there are study surveys embedded within the app that are automatically triggered each time a user stops a challenge, indicating a vaping occurrence. User responses to the surveys will help researchers learn more about the unique processes of vaping cessation among youth.

Download it directly from your phone’s app store, or through the following links: Apple iOS devices | Android devices