AUTHOR=Skran Sarah R. 
  
TITLE=The effectiveness of anti-vaping health communication campaigns among high school and college students in the U.S.
  
JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health
  
VOLUME=Volume 13 - 2025
  
YEAR=2026
  
URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1676181
  
DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2025.1676181
  
ISSN=2296-2565
  
ABSTRACT=IntroductionThis policy review looks at the exact message themes used in anti-vaping health communication campaigns, PSAs, and warning labels to determine how they can be improved to decrease vaping initiation and encourage cessation among adolescents and young adults.Literature reviewTwo meta-analyses, one on anti-vaping campaigns and another on vaping advertisements are reviewed in addition to one retrospective on tobacco warning labels. Overall, messages that reveal specific health harms and increase perceived risk are most likely to decrease vaping tendency.MethodsA total of 16 studies are analyzed assessing the viewpoints of 21,427 people regarding how they feel about terminology used in several types of anti-vaping messages.Actionable recommendationsMultiple recommendations are made regarding how to improve the efficacy of current anti-vaping campaigns. Among several other factors, messages that denote the health consequences of vaping and chemicals contained in vapor products are the most effective. Meanwhile, messages that warn that nicotine is addictive are deemed the least effective.DiscussionImplications of these findings for policymakers include the need for a new FDA warning label that includes specific health implications of vape and nicotine use; Structural changes to restrict youth and young adult access to vape products; as well as guidance regarding how to use social media to disseminate information on the dangers of vaping.