Vaping has become a significant public health concern across the United States, impacting millions of young people each year. Vaping products often contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance that can interfere with brain development, affecting attention, learning, mood, and impulse control in adolescents. Youth who vape are also at increased risk for long-term health concerns.
Lia Tassinari and Caitlyn Hayden will be leading a discussion focused on vaping prevention. Together, they will provide practical tools, resources, and strategies to help individuals, families, and communities better understand vaping risks and support youth in making safe, healthy choices.
Lia Tassinari is a licensed social worker with over seven years of experience working with youth. They previously worked with Lexington Public Schools, where they led educational programming for children, teens, and adults focused on drug prevention and vaping prevention. Lia is committed to supporting young people and communities through education, prevention, and access to resources.
Caitlyn Hayden is a passionate public health advocate dedicated to expanding educational opportunities and promoting informed decision-making within communities. She holds a Master of Social Work and a Master of Public Health from Boston University, where she focused on community organizing to support youth substance use prevention. Caitlyn has experience working with Lexington Public Schools prevention program, where she coordinated education on bullying and harassment, mental health, and substance misuse for elementary, middle, and high school students using a peer education model.