Personalized research briefing
Research brief: youth tobacco cessation, prevention, and harm reduction
These five recent studies were selected because they map directly to Franklin County Health Department’s priorities: tobacco cessation for youth, environmental approaches to reduce adolescent risky behaviors through the Just Say Yes coalition, and harm reduction services provided by the syringe exchange program. Each article offers actionable evidence or operational insights that can inform program design, outreach, and education for local youth and clients.
Social Media Support Groups for Youth Nicotine Vaping Cessation: An RCT.
This randomized trial tested 5-week Instagram direct-message support groups for 13–21-year-olds who vaped and were considering quitting, comparing them with referral to state quitline resources. Participants in the social media intervention had higher 7-day abstinence over six months versus control, reported greater perceived social support, and the approach was acceptable to a diverse sample, though retention declined over follow-up.
Why it matters for Franklin County Health Department
Franklin County’s tobacco cessation work targets adolescents and young adults; this study shows a feasible, youth-preferred delivery channel (social media groups) that could complement existing quitline referrals. The trial’s focus on peer support, motivational interviewing, and short, structured group quit attempts offers a model to pilot with local youth while attending to privacy, consent, and retention challenges.
Patterns and Correlates of Disposable E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Youth.
Analysis of the 2023 National Youth Tobacco Survey identified distinct risk patterns among youth who predominantly use disposable e-cigarettes, including higher likelihood of nicotine-containing products, fruit-flavor preference, daily social media exposure, peer use, home exposure, and associations with severe psychological distress. Concurrent cigarette and e-cigarette users showed the strongest dependence indicators and broader social exposure.
Why it matters for Franklin County Health Department
The findings help Franklin County tailor prevention messaging for the Just Say Yes coalition by highlighting social media exposure, flavor appeal, and mental health links as key modifiable factors in youth disposable e-cigarette use. Local education and environmental strategies (school-based messaging, parental guidance on home exposure, and social-media–informed outreach) can be prioritized based on these differentiated risk profiles.
Trends in Emergency Department Visits Involving Cannabis Hyperemesis Syndrome Identified Using a New Diagnosis Code – United States, January 2023-May 2026.
Implementation of a CHS-specific ICD-10-CM code in October 2025 corresponded with a sustained increase in identified ED visits involving cannabis hyperemesis syndrome, suggesting prior under-recognition. Higher proportions were observed among persons aged 15–24 and females, and authors recommend strengthened education, routine cannabis-use assessment in ED settings, and improved surveillance.
Why it matters for Franklin County Health Department
Franklin County’s syringe exchange and outreach services interact with adolescents and young adults who use substances; this study indicates CHS may be more common than previously recognized among that age group. Incorporating brief education about frequent cannabis risks into harm-reduction conversations, coordinating with ED partners on recognition and referral pathways, and updating local surveillance or counseling materials would align with existing program responsibilities.
Carrying Firearms and Suicide Risk Among Adolescents.
Secondary analysis of 2023 state YRBS data found adolescents who reported carrying firearms had substantially higher odds of a past-year suicide attempt compared with noncarriers; stronger state firearm laws were associated with lower odds of attempts. The association persisted after adjusting for demographics and was noted across racial and ethnic groups, with equity implications highlighted.
Why it matters for Franklin County Health Department
This evidence links a modifiable environmental factor—adolescent firearm carrying—to elevated suicide risk, which is relevant to Franklin County’s Just Say Yes focus on environmental contributors to youth risk behaviors. The coalition could use these results to inform local partnerships around safe storage education, school-based prevention, and cross-sector messaging that connects firearm access reduction with suicide prevention efforts.
Engaging Families in Pediatric Care Management: A Qualitative Study From the North Carolina Integrated Care for Kids Model.
Interviews with families eligible for a pediatric care-management model identified facilitators of enrollment and retention (clear, tailored explanations; flexible scheduling; strong relationships with care managers) and barriers (self-reliance, confusion about program scope, competing demands). The study highlights the importance of plain messaging, flexible delivery, and relationship-building to increase participation among Medicaid-insured families.
Why it matters for Franklin County Health Department
Franklin County’s youth-facing programs—both Just Say Yes outreach and connections from the syringe exchange to family services—depend on caregiver engagement to be effective. Practical strategies from this study (simplified eligibility messaging, multiple communication channels, flexible scheduling, and investment in staff relationship skills) could improve uptake and retention of local care-linkage, prevention, and family-centered referrals without major structural changes.
Together these studies underscore the value of youth-tailored delivery channels, attention to social and home environments, and practical engagement strategies for families and clients. Applying these insights can help Franklin County refine cessation outreach, environmental prevention work through Just Say Yes, and harm-reduction education within the syringe exchange program.
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