Using social media to help teenagers quit vaping
Official title: Social media support groups for adolescent vaping cessation
Funded at University of California, San Francisco · NIH-10952766 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing a friendly program called 'Quit the Hit' on Instagram to help teens and young adults aged 13-21 quit vaping by connecting them with supportive chats and helpful tips from others who understand what they're going through.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California, San Francisco NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (San Francisco, United States) |
| Project start | September 9, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $692,872 |
| NIH project number | 1R01CA292971-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10952766 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 13-21 who are currently using e-cigarettes and are motivated to quit.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not use e-cigarettes or are outside the age range of 13-21 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates a program called 'Quit the Hit' that utilizes Instagram direct message groups to support adolescents aged 13-21 in quitting vaping. The program was developed in collaboration with hundreds of adolescents and aims to provide a flexible and scalable intervention for vaping cessation. Participants will engage in supportive discussions and receive evidence-based strategies to help them stop using e-cigarettes. The effectiveness of this approach will be evaluated through a randomized controlled trial to assess abstinence rates.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel and effective method for helping adolescents quit vaping, potentially reducing health risks associated with e-cigarette use.
How similar studies have gone: While there is limited research on social media-based vaping cessation programs, preliminary data from this program indicates promising results, suggesting a potential for success.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ling, Pamela May — University of California, San Francisco
- Study coordinator: Ling, Pamela May
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Flavor rules and youth smoking/vaping: what happens when flavors are restricted
A nationwide study will look at how banning or limiting flavored tobacco products affects how often adults and youth smoke or vape.
-
Vaping cessation for teens using Kick-Nic! and a CBT app
A Youth-focused program tests a CBT-based smartphone app and a virtual in-person CBT to help teens quit vaping.
-
Social media groups help teens quit vaping
A teen-focused program on Instagram direct message groups aims to help adolescents stop using e-cigarettes.
-
Parents Helping Parents: A Two-Arm Trial to Help Teens Quit Vaping
A two-arm trial tests a parent-supported approach to help youths aged 15–18 quit vaping.
-
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.
-
Motivation-based teen vaping profile to guide quitting help
Aims to understand why adolescents vape and use that knowledge to tailor stopping tools that fit teens.
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.