MOUNT VERNON – Quitting is a decision a person has to make for themselves, but teens have a free, confidential resource in My Life My Quit.

Knox Public Health shared in its Oct. 7 community update that My Life, My Quit is "proven to help teens quit vaping and other tobacco products."

The program, developed and operated by National Jewish Health, partners with 19 state health departments to help youth quit. Their website, oh.mylifemyquit.org, has extensive information, from the dangers of vaping to how nicotine alters brain chemistry, how tobacco and vape companies work to both target tees and keep users craving more, plus the dollar cost of addiction – and also provides free resources to parents, educators, health-care professionals and community organizations.

"Our coaches," the website says, "receive extensive training as tobacco treatment specialists through our [Council for Tobacco Treatment Training Programs]-accredited program, with additional training on adolescent cognitive and psychosocial development from a psychologist and professor at Stanford University who specializes in adolescent tobacco prevention."

Coaches are available to participants through five one-on-one sessions, typically scheduled every 7-10 days, as well as in case of emergency with a 24/7 help line with text and chat support during certain hours. Coaches work to help participants develop their quit plan, identify their triggers for tobacco use and practice their refusal skills, as well as provide ongoing support of the encouraged behavioral changes.

Teens interested in trying the program can visit the website, text "Start My Quit" to 36072, or call 855-891-9989.