School nurses are on the front lines of addressing youth vaping. At the 2026 National Association of School Nurses (NASN) Annual Conference, UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights shared free educational resources designed to help schools debunk common misconceptions about vaping to support student health.

As an Annual Sponsor of NASN Chemical Insights connected with school nurses from across the country, providing science-based vaping prevention materials at the conference booth and the Foundation for Asthma and Allergy Impact and Rescue (AAIR) Party with a Purpose backpack-stuffing event.

According to the latest results from the Annual National Youth Tobacco Survey, 1.44 million middle and high school students reported that they currently used e-cigarettes (often referred to as vapes) in 2025. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that adolescent tobacco use increases the likelihood of nicotine addiction over a lifetime.

Additionally, misconceptions—like vape clouds being harmless water vapor—often fuel the normalization of vaping, despite scientific evidence of health and environmental risks. As misconceptions about vaping spread among youth, schools need access to evidence-based educational resources that clearly explain the health risks.

During conversations at NASN, many school nurses shared that finding credible, age-appropriate vaping education materials is difficult.

One school nurse responsible for tobacco prevention programming across an entire school district explained that evidence-based educational tools can be challenging to find, often leading educators to rely on online videos and informal resources.

The feedback reinforced the need for accessible, research-backed materials that help students understand the health impacts of vaping.

To support schools, Chemical Insights developed educational resources that translate scientific research into engaging, understandable learning tools. These resources are free of cost.

A quick-read infographic designed for students who want clear facts without information overload.

This educational graphic novel uses storytelling to help students understand the science behind vaping.

School nurses noted that the graphic novel’s format makes it especially effective for one-on-one interventions with students who have been caught vaping, helping present scientific information in a memorable and relatable way.

The Understanding the Hidden Health Risks of Vaping webpage provides:

• Key takeaways from UL 200D Guidance Document: Science Education and Research on Vaping and Interventions for Community Engagement (SERVICE)
• Quick statistics
• On-demand access and downloadable resources for students, families, educators, and public health professionals

At the AAIR Party with a Purpose, our graphic novels were stuffed into 1,000 backpacks that will be distributed across the U.S. to help expand access to vaping prevention information. These efforts reflect a growing need for trusted resources that bridge the gap between scientific research and real-world health education.

Throughout the conference, school nurses consistently emphasized the value of turning complex science into engaging educational content. This easy-to-understand information helps schools better support prevention efforts and informed decision-making among youth.