The Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS) has introduced a new online program aimed at reducing tobacco and vaping use among young people in the state. The E-Cigarette and Tobacco Awareness Program (ETAP) is designed for Texans under 21 who have been referred by courts or schools after being found in possession of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
Developed in partnership with Texas State University’s Texas School Safety Center, ETAP fulfills a legal requirement that those under 21 cited for tobacco possession must complete a DSHS-approved awareness course. The program is accessible statewide at no cost to participants or schools and replaces the previous Texas Youth Tobacco Awareness Program, which required live instruction and often involved fees.
Manda Hall, MD, DSHS Deputy Commissioner for Community Health Improvement, stated: “This course provides young people with the knowledge and tools they need to avoid and even break tobacco and vaping addiction that may already negatively affect them. We encourage schools and educators to use the ETAP course as an alternative to school suspension or the Disciplinary Alternative Education Program in their districts.”
In addition to fulfilling court or school referrals, ETAP includes a prevention course for students in grades 6-12. Schools are encouraged to integrate this component into their anti-tobacco education efforts.
For more information about ETAP, visit the program’s website or contact DSHS at pressofficer@dshs.texas.gov.
