No Smoke, No Joke Campaign aims to prevent tobacco use amongst local youth

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nearly nine out of 10 adults who smoke cigarettes daily, first try smoking by age 18, with e-cigarettes having been the most used tobacco product among young people since 2014.

The Georgia Cancer Center’s Tobacco Cessation team and Cancer Information and Awareness team have joined together to try and lower these numbers in the CSRA through education.

“No Smoke, No Joke is a campaign designed to prevent tobacco use among middle and high school students, with a special emphasis on vaping prevention,” said Fonda Nash Doby, the lead of the Tobacco Cessation team.

Their first presentation happened this past month at Tutt Middle School, with more visits scheduled with schools around the area for the 2025-2026 school year.

Students were brought into their gym by grade level, and given an interactive presentation by Doby and Haylie McEarchern, a patient educator on the Tobacco Cessation team. Doby and McEarchern are both certified tobacco treatment specialists.

“Our interactive presentation educates students about vaping, nicotine products, and their associated health risks. The session includes warm-up activities, educational slides, short videos,” said McEarchern.

Students were shocked to learn that vapes are not just water vapor, but contain many dangerous substances, such as lead. Doby and McEarchern walked them through the danger of smoking, and how the kids were being targeted by tobacco ads so that they could learn to not be influenced by them.

At the end of the presentation, students were split into teams based on their class and competed in a Jeopardy style review game to test what they had learned. Each child went home with an informational packet, along with the contact information for the Tobacco Cessation team so that they could share it with family members who might have difficulty with quitting.

“Looking ahead, our goal is to reach every middle and high school in Richmond County and Columbia County,” said Doby when asked about the future of the program.

Schools interested in hosting a No Smoke, No Joke presentation can contact the Georgia Cancer Tobacco Cessation Team or the Cancer Information and Awareness team via email at stoptobacco@augusta.edu, phone at 706-721-0456, or via fax at 706-721-5416