The Virginia Conference on Youth Tobacco Use:
New Challenges and Innovative Solutions
Sponsored by the Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects (VYTP) Research Coalition
April 15 and 16, 2024
Day 1: April 15
7:30 - 8:30 AM Sign In and Breakfast
8:30 – 9:00 AM Welcome and Opening Remarks
Alison Breland, PhD, Director of the Virginia Youth Tobacco Projects, Virginia Commonwealth University
Dr. Andre Muelenaer, Jr., MD, Professor of Practice, Biomedical Engineering and Mechanics, Virginia Tech, and Board Member, Virginia Foundation for Healthy Youth Board of Trustees
9:00 – 10:30 AM Session #1 – Tobacco and Cannabis Co-Use
Amy Cohn, PhD, University of Oklahoma, Navigating the Haze: Challenges in Youth Cannabis and Tobacco Use
Dale Mantey, PhD, University of Texas, Impact of E-Cigarette Use on Marijuana Initiation among Youth and Young Adults: Meta-Analysis & Systematic Review
10:30 – 10:45 AM Break
10:45 – 12:00 PM Session #2 – Statewide Approaches to Tobacco Control
Anita Hall and Jahan Jones, Y street, and Danny Saggesse, MBA, VFHY -- Share the Air: How Virginia Teens are Normalizing Tobacco-Free Outdoor Environments
Rita Miller, Virginia Department of Health: Quit Now Virginia Presents Live Vape Free
12:00 PM – 1:30 PM Lunch and poster session
1:30 – 2:30 PM Keynote Address – Amanda Graham, PhD, Truth Initiative,
Bigger, Stronger, Cheaper: Combatting Industry Evolution with Cessation Innovation
2:30 – 2:45 PM Break
2:45 – 4:15 PM Session #3 –Community Approaches to Tobacco Control (Presentations and Panel Discussion)
Makayla Boyd and Shameaka Asberry, Mountain Empire Older Citizens: Healthy Families Tobacco Cessation Program
Robyn Chapman and Alisha Vines, Orange County Office on Youth: Clearing the Fog - Vanquishing Vaping
Kenan Tyner-Smith and Sara Weisman, Southside Behavioral Health: Southside Tobacco Use Youth Prevention Strategies
Kara P. Wiseman, MPH, PhD and Cody Sanders, PhD, University of Virginia Cancer Center: Addressing Generational Tobacco Use through a School-based, Student-led Educational Intervention
Terrell Pollard, Henrico Too Smart 2 Start Coalition: Nicotine Smart
Zarina Burdge and Hannah Firdyiwek, Region Ten Community Services Board: Clear the Air Charlottesville - A Youth-designed PSA (Public Service Announcement) Project
Navvy Stevens and Gabriella Gray, Substance Abuse Free Environment, Inc. (SAFE): “SAFE from VAPE” Project to Reduce Youth Vaping
4:15 Closing remarks for Day 1
Day 2: April 16
7:30 – 8:30 AM Sign In and Breakfast
8:30 – 8:45 AM Welcome Caroline Cobb, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University
8:45 – 10:15 AM Session # 4 – New Products: Oral Nicotine Pouches and “Non-Menthol” Cigarettes
Thomas Eissenberg, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University: Nicotine Delivery and Subjective Effect Profiles of 2, 4, and 8 mg Oral Nicotine Pouches in People Who Use Smokeless Tobacco
Mignonne Guy, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University, History Repeats Itself: Exploring the Tobacco Industry's Strategy for Maintaining the Menthol Market in the Era of Version 2.0
Sven-Eric Jordt, PhD, Duke University, Cooling Agents Replacing Menthol: Chemical and Pharmacological Analysis of “Ice” and “Non-menthol” Tobacco Products
10:15 – 10:30 AM Break
10:30 – 12:00 PM Session # 5 – Challenges and Solutions/Lessons Learned
Moderated breakout groups with themes and discussion
12:00 – 1:15 PM Lunch and Networking
1:15 – 4:00 PM VYTP Coalition Meeting (members meeting but all are welcome)
1:15 – 1:30 Announcements
Alison Breland (VCU)
Lisa Brown (VFHY)
Colleen Hughes, Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services: Update on 2024 Virginia General Assembly Session and Retailer Education Modules
1:30 – 2:30 New Small Grants Program Grantees
Rima Nakkash, DrPH, Omolayo Joy Anjorin, MD, MSc, George Mason University, Ebbie Kalan, PhD, Eastern Virginia Medical School: LGBTQ+ College Youth Engagement and Participation in Informing Prevention Programs to Curb ENDS Use Among Them and Their Peers
Belle Buzzi (for Imad Damaj, PhD, and Paul Whiteaker, PhD), Virginia Commonwealth University: Behavioral and Molecular Impact of Adolescent Nicotine Vaping
2:30 – 2:45 Break
2:45 – 4:00 Large Grants Program and Small Grants Program Grantees (Presentations and Panel Discussion)
Paul Harrell, PhD, Eastern Virginia Medical School: A Risk-Tailored Approach to Connecting Youth with Vaping Prevention and Cessation Resources
Alaina Holt, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University: Chemical Characterization of Confiscated E-Cigarette
Products Across Virginia
Products Across Virginia
Rose Wesche, PhD, Virginia Tech: Adolescents' Exposure to and Interactions with Messages about ENDS in Diverse Social Media Formats
Sara Rothenberg, MPH, Eastern Virginia Medical School: Creating a New Social Emotional and Substance Abuse Prevention Program for Youth in Virginia
Shawn Jones, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University: Protective Effects Against the Negative Impact of Racial Discrimination and Stress on Menthol Cigarette Use in African Americans
Melissa Little, PhD, University of Virginia: Testing an Anti-Tobacco Intervention to Reduce Tobacco and Nicotine Use among High School Students
Hong Xue, George Mason University: Systems Simulation Modeling for Youth Tobacco Prevention and Control Research in Virginia
Bernard Fuemmeler, PhD, Virginia Commonwealth University: Understanding Youth Exposure to Tobacco Marketing in Non-metropolitan and Rural Settings
4:00 Closing remarks for Day 2