New Community Project Partners with Engage Mountain Maryland to Confront Youth Vaping Crisis
- Mark Stutzman
- Jun 9
- 4 min read
Pictured left to right, back to front: Mark Stutzman, Erin Miller, Dawn Panther, Noelle Bell, Caitlin Yoder, Stephen Skipper. Not pictured, Heather Roth and Michael Lewis.
ThriveAbility Co, educators, parents, and students unite to champion public health education while urging stronger state-level protections.
OAKLAND, MD – [06/08/26] – Vaping among children as young as age 10 is raising alarms for Garrett County educators and parents who are seeing a massive, visible surge of nicotine addiction and device abuse unfolding within the local community. In response, a new community-driven project called ThriveAbility Co has formed to raise immediate public awareness, protect children’s well-being, and advocate for systemic, proactive change. Recognizing that local institutions cannot fight this crisis in isolation, ThriveAbility Co has partnered with Engage Mountain Maryland (EMM), a local nonprofit dedicated to community growth and communication, to spearhead an aggressive public education and outreach campaign.
"We began having conversations because we were seeing firsthand how vaping is affecting students academically, socially, mentally, and physically," said Steven Skipper, Southern High School Assistant Principal. "This is not just a disciplinary issue anymore — it’s a public health issue.”
Unlike traditional punitive measures that are purely reactionary, ThriveAbility Co aims to tackle the root of the problem by debunking the early myths that frame vaping as a harmless alternative to cigarettes. The project's goal is to elevate public knowledge, provide meaningful resources for families, and shed a clearer light on the situation, enabling the community to proactively combat the slick, predatory marketing tactics used by manufacturers to target youth under the legal purchase age of 21.
Local youth are speaking out about how deeply entrenched the habit has become among their peers, noting that the compact, easily concealed devices offer a dangerous appeal.
"We are teenagers. Our brains are wired for instant gratification. Vaping provides that for many students," said local student Natalie Bell. "Most students think adults are exaggerating the health consequences that come with vaping and don't think it's that big of an issue. But this is a school environment; students who vape impact those around them, whether they realize it or not."
Michael Lantz, Senior Class President, echoed the need for an immediate reality check regarding the scale and future impact of the issue. "People downplay the percentage of our population that does it," Lantz stated. "Some adults may not realize that since there are few health-related consequences now, there could be more in the future. “ The habit-forming nature of vaping can lead to other addictive behaviors, according to Lantz.
Health experts warn that the dangers of youth vaping extend far beyond nicotine. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC.gov), these devices routinely deliver cancer-causing chemicals and heavy metals like lead and nickel into developing lungs. Furthermore, community members and organizers point to an escalating crisis surrounding the excessive availability of highly concentrated marijuana-infused vapes and look-alike edibles currently circulating among young people. This powerful toxic cocktail severely harms adolescent brain development—permanently damaging attention, memory, and impulse control. Child development specialists warn that this level of addiction directly derails a child's concentration, motivation, and school attendance, threatening their long-term future.
"It was alarming to hear how vaping has wormed its way into the lives of children in our community," said Mark Stutzman of Engage Mountain Maryland. "The well-being of our citizens is at the center of our mission, and EMM is proud to help raise awareness."
ThriveAbility Co organizers emphasize that local government, school administrators, the health department, and local law enforcement have proven to be excellent partners, working tirelessly to keep schools and communities safe. However, local stakeholders face strict legal limits when attempting to restrict access or manage a modern public health crisis of this scale. Long-term solutions require meaningful structural backing from the state level. The project highlights the critical need for state representatives to champion this issue and urge the state's Alcohol, Tobacco, and Cannabis Commission (ATCC) to implement stringent regulations to prevent underage sales and access.
Because policy change takes time, ThriveAbility Co is focusing its immediate energy on what the community can directly control: education, prevention, and massive parental involvement. Organizers will continue to gather firsthand perspectives from parents, students, school administrators, and law enforcement to highlight the real-world impact on local families and demonstrate widespread unity.
Active community participation is vital to the project's success, and county residents are urgently being asked to step up, get involved, and support the initiative immediately by taking the following actions: joining the project’s mailing list, following and sharing updates on Facebook and Instagram, volunteering for outreach campaigns, and talking openly with youth about the risks.
For more information, to get involved, or to submit inquiries, please visit EngageMMD.org/triveabilityco, or email thriveabilityco@gmail.com. You can also find us on Facebook and Instagram.
About Engage Mountain Maryland: Engage Mountain Maryland is a non-profit organization dedicated to strengthening communities through active communication, engagement, and advocacy. By partnering with local leaders, projects, and citizens, EMM works to address critical public issues and promote the long-term well-being of the region's residents. For more information, visit EngageMMD.org.
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