1.6M+
U.S. middle & high school students currently vape (CDC/FDA NYTS, 2024)
1 in 4
young users vape daily - a marker of nicotine addiction
~90%
of youth who vape use flavored products
55%
of young adult vapers seeking to quit screen positive for anxiety (GAD-2)
THE PROBLEM
The problem we're working on
E-cigarettes remain the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth - and the students still vaping are vaping more intensely, with flavored disposables designed to keep them hooked during the years their brains are most vulnerable to nicotine. The numbers above are why we walk into classrooms.
01
EDUCATION
We deliver talks and awareness programs in schools - including presentations to students in India - and are working with Independent School Districts across Texas to reach more classrooms.
02
OUTREACH
We help middle and high schools build student-led groups that learn the science behind vaping: nicotine addiction, and its effects on developing lungs and brains. Those students then share what they've learned with their peers through presentations and school events.
03
RESEARCH
We conduct clinical studies and publish peer-reviewed work alongside practicing physicians, so the education we bring into schools stays grounded in current evidence.
Classroom session, SEV School - Rotary Club of Madurai Metro Heritage, January 2026.
RESOURCES
Know the facts
Plain-language answers to common questions about vaping, so students, parents, and educators can make informed decisions.
It's not just water vapor
E-cigarettes produce an aerosol carrying nicotine alongside carbonyls, volatile organic compounds, heavy metals, and other toxicants.
Nicotine and the developing brain
The brain keeps developing into the mid-20s. Nicotine exposure during the teen years can impair attention, memory, and impulse control before the prefrontal cortex fully matures.
Effects on the body
Vaping can raise heart rate and blood pressure, irritate the airways, and contribute to serious lung injury (EVALI), alongside effects on focus, memory, and mood.
Elakiya Jayaraman
Founder
OUR TEAM
Students and physicians
PHYSICIAN ADVISORS: Dr. Ramesh Kesavan, MD; Dr. Zainab Shakir, MD; Dr. Shafaq Jawed, MD
Yash Tiwari
Co-Founder
Ariana Azimi-Shooshtari
Treasurer
Kavya Ramachandran
Secretary
BOOK A TALK
Bring R.E.S.P.I.R.E. Health to your school
We deliver evidence-based vaping education sessions for middle and high schools - built on the science, not scare tactics. Talks are led by our student team alongside practicing physicians, and each session is tailored to your students' age group. Tell us about your school below and we will get back to you.
Contact us at theteam@respirehealth.co