Sentinel photo by JEFFREY DOSS A Mifflin County agency is offering ‘Quit Kits’ for teens looking to stop vaping.

From staff reports

LEWISTOWN — Mifflin County Communities That Care is distributing free “Quit Kits” across the county as part of an ongoing effort to reduce youth vaping and help teens quit nicotine.

The initiative began when kits were delivered to local schools and partner agencies and will continue until all kits are distributed. Communities That Care officials said the program was launched in response to preliminary results from the 2025 Pennsylvania Youth Survey and is funded through Communities That Care, a program of Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most vapes contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can harm the developing adolescent brain by affecting attention, learning, mood and impulse control.

Nationally, e-cigarettes remained the most commonly used tobacco product among middle and high school students in 2024, with about 1.63 million youth reporting current use, according to the CDC.

Locally, preliminary PAYS results show 21 sixth graders, 74 eighth graders, 68 10th graders and 107 12th graders in Mifflin County reported lifetime nicotine use.

Communities That Care said many teens turn to vaping for stress relief, but nicotine can worsen anxiety and mood over time. Quitting nicotine has been linked to improved mood, reduced stress and better overall mental health.

The Quit Kits are designed to help youth manage cravings and replace vaping or smoking with healthier alternatives. Each kit includes items such as gum, hard candy, lollipops, tea bags, fidget tools, flavored toothpicks and lip balm, along with motivational materials, quitting tips and information about local support services.

“This initiative is about meeting youth where they are and giving them real tools to succeed,” said Aleta Kammerer of Communities That Care. “Quitting is hard, but support makes a difference.”

The kits are free and available to anyone who wants help quitting nicotine, though the program is primarily aimed at local youth.

Teens can receive a kit by expressing to school staff or partner agency staff that they want support in quitting vaping. Staff members at participating sites can provide the kits directly.

Quit Kits are available through several local partners, including Mifflin County Middle School, the junior high and high school, Project YES, Children and Youth Services, Mifflin County Probation, Child and Adolescent Social Service Program, SAM Inc., Clear Concepts Counseling, Tri-County Drug and Alcohol and the YMCA.

Kammerer said the goal is to reduce youth vaping and support healthier outcomes for teens across Mifflin County.