Jessica Breazeale Inspires Wesson Students to Say No to Vaping

Breazeale speaking on "Truth About Vape" at Wesson High to health class.

Jessica Breazeale of Wesson was recently invited to speak at Wesson High School to Mrs. Lisa Earls’ health class on behalf of GenFree MS. 

GENFREEMS stands for Generation Free, a name that represents the hope that the next generation will make an informed decision to be vape/nicotine/tobacco- free. 

The tobacco industry spent nearly $9.5 billion marketing its cigarette, smokeless tobacco, and e-cigarette products in 2021, the most recent year with data for all three. Retail marketing accounted for almost $9.1 billion (95.6%), exceeding $1 million per hour.

“Kids and teens just don’t realize,” said Breazeale. “It’s a marketing strategy that’s tailored to them....sweet, cheap and easy to get."

There are more than 7,000 vape juice flavors available to e-cigarette users, according to the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Some of these are considered safe in typical food products when eaten, but are harmful when inhaled in the aerosol form of vape.

"Kids love the sweet flavors vape offers. So the makers of these products make them cheap and easy to get in order to gain more lifetime customers. Such a greedy despicable industry," said Breazeale.

According to The Truth Initiative, Nicotine addiction can negatively impact mental health symptoms. 93% of vapers reported feeling more stress, depression or anxiety. 86% of all e-cigarette sales are for illegal products. A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association found youth who vaped were nearly 4 times more likely to smoke.

One vape can equal 40 or 50 cigarettes. The nicotine content in those vapes is extremely high and on developing brains

The GenFreeMS program trains students to become youth advocates who inspire change & educate their peers about the dangers of tobacco and vaping. 

By engaging students to take charge of advocacy in their schools & local communities, GenFree MS is helping these students utilize their voices for an advocacy-filled life.

Educators like Breazeale aspire to ignite the spark in these students so they may make a positive change for Mississippi. Tobacco and nicotine products are harming young people, our communities, and the planet.

Cigarette and vape waste are toxic to the environment. Breazeale is organizing an environmental cleanup day. If you or your organization wants to get involved, email goatministry@gmail.com. 

"I say this often and will continue to say it. 'If not me, who will help them learn the truth about these products? If not now, then when will someone do something?”' Breazeale explained. "Might as well be me...changes starts with me."

Teens and young adults can text "VAPEFREEMS" to 88709 to receive free, anonymous support from the Mississippi State Department of Health (MSDH) for help in quitting. Messages will come from other young people who are quitting or have successfully quit e-cigarettes, providing real-life support and motivation.