HURLEYVILLE — On Friday, May 30, the Coalition for a Vape-Free Sullivan recognized World No Tobacco Day with a public event to raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco and vapes. Held at the head of the Rail Trail in Hurleyville, the event was spearheaded by Sullivan 180 Managing Director Amanda Langseder, who said she was outraged when her own child began vaping. 

That personal experience, she said, motivated her to take action and educate young people on the dangers of vaping and other nicotine products.

“It takes a full village to connect with kids and get the message out there,” Langseder said, “Vaping is incredibly dangerous, and our kids are being targeted in ways that are subtle but effective. We have to stay ahead of it.”

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 5.9 percent of U.S. middle and high school students reported current e-cigarette use in 2024 — a decrease from 7.7 percent in 2023. While health officials view the drop as progress, they warn that vaping remains a major public health concern, particularly with the growing popularity of flavored disposables and nicotine pouches among teens and young adults.

The event featured speakers, a student advocate, and public health organizations offering free resources to those hoping to quit smoking or vaping. Youth participants presented Airing Big Tobacco’s Dirty Laundry: A Youth Truth Exhibit, a community art display developed by Tobacco-Free Action Communities. 

The installation featured a clothesline hung along the trail, with T-shirts and garments decorated by students with anti-vaping messages and artwork. Jessica Kenneda, a representative from the organization, explained that the display was designed to give students a visual and expressive way to speak out. 

“They absolutely came up with this idea of, ‘Hey, let’s take old pieces of clothing and let the students put anti-vaping messages on them to really air out Big Tobacco’s dirty laundry,’” Kenneda said.

Sullivan 180 Prevention Coordinator Nicole Blais said to the audience, “The marketing is a really big thing — [students are] learning how they’re being targeted with these flavors and the product placement.”

As Prevention Coordinator for Sullivan 180, Blais works closely with schools across the county to deliver anti-vaping education and build relationships with students. Through the Catch My Breath program, she has helped nearly 600 students understand the health risks of vaping and how to resist peer pressure. 

After the event, Blais said students often begin to question the marketing once they understand how deliberately it’s designed to appeal to them. “They’re smart — once you show them how the marketing works, they get it. They start asking real questions,” she said.

Monticello High School student Celeste Deandrea delivered a keynote speech highlighting how vaping impacts adolescent brain development and how vape companies target young users through flavors and social media. “Teenagers are becoming addicted without even realizing it,” she said.

Sullivan County Commissioner of Health and Human Services John Liddle praised the strength of local partnerships. “It takes a network to defeat a network,” he said, crediting collaboration between schools, nonprofits, law enforcement, and public health agencies.

Public Health Director Dr. Jessie Moore said, “We’ve come a long way from the days of Joe Camel lunchboxes and Marlboro gear.” She encouraged parents to use teachable moments and everyday conversations to guide their children, noting that these informal opportunities are often the most effective way to talk about vaping and tobacco use. 

Moore, who holds a Doctorate in Public Health and has taught public health courses at SUNY Orange and Touro College, brings over 15 years of experience in maternal health, substance use prevention, and community wellness.

Fallsburg school resource officer Sgt. Phillip Brooks shared first hand stories from his time working in the district. He described a rise in vape-related incidents in local schools, including a recent case in which a student was hospitalized after consuming a high-potency THC gummy. 

“D.A.R.E. is outdated,” he said. “We need something that connects.”

Brooks went on to describe how he worked to modernize the D.A.R.E. program with his students. 

“I’ve done a lot of things where I’ve shown pictures of what popcorn lung looks like,” he said. “I’ve shown overdoses where unfortunately people have died because they either took a vape or they died from fentanyl.” He acknowledged the images can be difficult to look at but said, “I think the kids need to see that.”

Sullivan County Legislator Catherine Scott closed the event by reading an official proclamation in honor of World No Tobacco Day and shared her personal story of quitting smoking. 

“You don’t realize the damage until it’s too late,” she said.