Working with a East Student on her upcoming anti-vaping podcast.
Author: Charlotte (Charlie) McCormick | Major: Honors Public Health | Semester: Fall 2024
Youth Voices in Action: Vaping in Schools Honors College Grant Blog Post
My name is Charlotte (Charlie) McCormick. I am a senior Honors Public Health Major and a Human Development and Family Sciences Minor here at the University of Arkansas! My wonderful mentor is Dr. Page Dobbs in the Department of Health, Human Performance and Recreation. I plan to continue my research career at the University of Arkansas in the Accelerated Master of Public Health Program and continue to work in the Health Equity and Addictions Lab with Dr. Dobbs throughout my graduate career.
During the Fall 2024 Grant Period, we collaborated with Arkansas middle and high school students in the Education Accelerated by Service and Technology (EAST) program. These students formed our Youth Tobacco Research Advisory Committee (YTRAC). This innovative group played a pivotal role in identifying key concerns surrounding youth perceptions of tobacco use and school tobacco control policies. A critical area of importance, as in 2023, 22.2% of U.S. middle and high school students reported ever using a tobacco product, with e-cigarettes being the most common. Alarmingly, 25.2% of youth e-cigarette users reported daily use (Birdsey et al., 2023). By empowering these students to serve as advocates rather than merely being disciplined by school policies, we are fostering a more impactful and inclusive approach to school policies and youth tobacco prevention.
As a sophomore, I attended the 2023 NWA Community Substance Use Prevention Conference, where I met my mentor, Dr. Dobbs. Working in the Health Equity and Addictions Lab was the natural next step for me. I have always been passionate about advocating for autonomy and empowerment in Public Health and have always tried to dedicate my research to protecting vulnerable populations, in this case, empowering and educating youth about the e-cigarette epidemic. I have worked with students from EAST programs across Arkansas since the Fall of 2023. I speak weekly with Arkansas EAST students helping facilitate and build their projects for the annual EAST conference in Hot Springs Arkansas in March 2025. These student researchers additionally form our YTRAC. The YTRAC’s insight and knowledge are invaluable to our field as they help us examine findings from a perspective not normally captured in research. For school tobacco-free policies, students are a voice that practitioners, administrators, and leaders need to hear from as they are the voices currently most heavily impacted by this issue.
Additionally, in April 2024, 325 Arkansas teachers participated in a survey examining tobacco policies in their schools. The survey explored topics such as current tobacco use among staff, perceptions of policies for students and staff, education provided to students, and school health priorities. Our lab analyzed the surveys for accuracy and clarity during the Fall semester, and this Spring, we will begin coding the data. I will assist in coding interview transcripts using deductive codes developed collaboratively with my mentor and another honors student. This process will provide deeper insights into the intersection of school policy, education, and public health priorities, furthering our understanding of youth tobacco control in educational settings.
This year I will have the privilege of attending the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco (SRNT) Conference in New Orleans as part of the Health Equity and Addictions Lab. This conference provides a platform to present our research, network with leading minds in the field, and exchange ideas to advance tobacco control efforts. I am especially excited to engage with researchers whose work has shaped my understanding of youth tobacco control and to discuss the strategy of our youth participatory research.
Additionally, our EAST students will travel to Hot Springs, Arkansas, to participate in the annual EAST Conference. This event offers a dynamic space for youth researchers to share their insights and progress on e-cigarette research. It is inspiring to witness these young voices contributing meaningfully and passionately to the field. The confidence I have seen in students attending this conference underscores the value of their collaboration and the importance of youth advocacy and engagement in addressing critical health issues.
I plan to submit a manuscript for publication at the end of the Spring Term and to continue my long-term goal of advocating for youth-led health policies through research and partnerships! I am deeply grateful to Honors College for allowing me to continue my research and deepen my passion for Public Health. This grant has provided me with the support and the opportunity to continue to work with my mentor, Dr. Page Dobbs, and contribute meaningfully to the Health Equity and Addictions Lab. Thank you for allowing me to make impactful relationships with these students and empower the next generation of researchers.