A program to prevent youth from vaping nicotine
Official title: Pilot and Feasibility Testing of a Peer-led Program to Prevent Youth Nicotine Vaping: The YES-CAN! Program
Funded at University of Colorado Denver · NIH-10930149 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a fun school program called YES-CAN! that helps middle and high school students work together to create videos and messages to prevent vaping, aiming to change how their friends think about it and encourage healthier choices.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Colorado Denver NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $234,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R34DA058218-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10930149 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 18 who are at risk of or currently engaging in nicotine vaping.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not adolescents or those who do not engage in or are not at risk for nicotine vaping may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a school-based program called YES-CAN! aimed at preventing nicotine vaping among adolescents. The program utilizes peer-led strategies, where students collaborate with adults to create health messages and videos that resonate with their peers. By focusing on youth engagement and positive health behaviors, the initiative seeks to change attitudes and norms around vaping in middle and high school communities. The program will be implemented in two school communities, where students will participate in a credit-earning class and produce videos to promote refusal skills and positive coping mechanisms.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could significantly reduce nicotine vaping among adolescents, leading to improved health outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that peer-led interventions can be effective in changing health behaviors among adolescents, suggesting potential success for this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Colorado Denver
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Crane, Lori a. — University of Colorado Denver
- Study coordinator: Crane, Lori a.
Related research
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Parents Helping Parents: A Two-Arm Trial to Help Teens Quit Vaping
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How vaping prevention ads affect teens and young adults
A nationwide project looks at which vaping-prevention video ads work best for teens and young adults and how they might reduce vaping when shown online.
-
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.