2024 - March

Dear Milford Parents and Families,

Children and teens are curious about vaping or e-cigarettes. This curiosity can lead to experimentation, which in turn may result in a lifelong addiction to nicotine. It's essential to recognize that e-cigarettes are not safe, and we need your assistance in addressing this issue.

The speed at which young individuals can become addicted to nicotine is alarming due to several reasons:

• E-cigarettes deliver nicotine in doses equivalent to or exceeding those of regular cigarettes.
• Adolescents become addicted to nicotine much faster than adults.
• Nicotine has more detrimental effects on the developing adolescent brain, making it particularly harmful to youth.
• Nicotine is often considered a social and biological "gateway" to the use of other substances, such as combustible cigarettes, alcohol, and drugs.

We recently discovered a FREE program called CATCH My Breath, a national initiative supported by CVS Health. Our team of Health Education teachers within the Milford School District will be reviewing this resource and considering its integration into our general health curriculum.

Parents play a crucial role in influencing their children's choices and are essential partners in education. We encourage you to engage in conversations with your child about vaping and e-cigarettes, although we understand that it may not always be easy. CATCH My Breath offers excellent resources and parent toolkits tailored to assist you in these discussions.

We invite you to join our efforts to educate young children and teens about the risks of vaping. Please feel free to reach out to your child's health/wellness teacher or directly to me if you have any questions.

Kindly,

Superintendent Michaud