An Eastlake High School student was recognized by the Sweetwater Union High School District for winning the SAY San Diego anti-vaping billboard contest.
The district Board of Trustees recognized Abigail Despopoulos on Monday for creating the winning anti-vaping billboard design posted in National City and Imperial Beach. According to Kevin O'Neil, Vice President of Community Engagement at SAY San Diego, Despopoulos’ design was selected from a district-wide contest and occupies two billboards for six weeks within district boundaries.
“Her artwork was a clear standout in the focus groups we ran for the submitted designs. The community members appreciated the messaging, the images supporting the messaging, and we felt the people in the image were representative of the district and their age, style, and ethnic diversity,” said O'Neil.
The goal of the contest is to help drive efforts to reduce youth vaping. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s.
In a recent study, the CDC found that nearly 85% of youth reported using e-cigarettes used flavored varieties in 2022. The most commonly used flavors among middle and high school students who currently use flavored e-cigarettes are fruit, candy, desserts, or other sweets, mint, and menthol.
The City of Chula Vista joined over 60 jurisdictions in California in September to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, with an ordinance slated to go into effect on Jan. 1, 2023.
The City of Chula Vista has adopted many policies related to prohibitions on smoking over the years to limit exposure to secondhand smoke and access to youth. The city council approved CVMC amendments on Dec. 19, 2017, to add e-cigarettes, including devices used for vaping, to the definition of “smoking”, prohibiting smoking on city-owned property.
The city also approved an amendment on March 16, 2018, to establish a tobacco retailers license program to regulate tobacco businesses and prevent selling tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia to individuals under the age of 21.
“We want to extend our appreciation to Abigail for her interest in the contest her understanding of vaping prevention messaging that would best resonate with her peers and for taking part in say San Diego's and Sweetwater's continued efforts to reduce youth vaping,” O’Neil said.
Board of Supervisors president Arturo Solis said “the poster itself says a lot.”
“I know a lot of students will listen to their peers instead of listening to adults telling them what to do and what not to do,” Solis said.
