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Youth substance use is a significant public health challenge in the United States, but importantly, it’s preventable. In 2024, surveys revealed that 9% of eighth graders, 16.9% of tenth graders, and 26.2% of twelfth graders reported using illegal substances within the past year. Early substance use is associated with serious consequences, including impaired brain development, decreased school performance, […]

Cigars—once seen as a niche luxury—are now aggressively marketed to youth, women, and communities of color through flavored products, low prices, and targeted advertising. The tobacco industry has designed and promoted cigars using flavors like cherry and vanilla to mask harsh tobacco, making them appealing to first-time users. From 2009 to 2020, cigar sales rose

Menthol is a compound found naturally in peppermint and similar plants, but it can also be made synthetically. In tobacco products like cigarettes, menthol produces a cooling sensation in the throat and lungs, which reduces the harshness of the smoke and makes it easier to inhale—an effect that can increase the likelihood of addiction. Menthol