“Exploring Youth Tobacco Use and Addiction Prevention: A Conversation with Monique Johnson”

[00:00:06] Jake White: Welcome back to another episode of Party Talk. I’m your host, Jake white. And of course Party Talk exists to empower leaders in youth drug prevention. I’m so excited that you’ve made it on this episode, because today we’re talking with Monique Johnson. She does tobacco policy in the state of Florida. She’s also a health educator, and she works with you. So enjoy this episode of Party, though, are you finding there’s a lot of youth and adults that are using tobacco products in Florida? And what products are most popular? 

[00:00:42] Monique Johnson: I don’t know if you saw but I know the American Lung Association, they just put out their state of lung health, so to speak their grades. So Florida supporting health, and I think there are few other states, as far as tobacco control goes. So personally on a day to day basis, I don’t really see it as prevalent. But when we look at the data for the state, it is really high. And especially when we talk about youth tobacco use. So particularly like in the county where I serve, our numbers are about like 68% for youth that have ever tried, like vaping, any type of tobacco product, so really higher than the state average. And I think you’ll find that maybe in more like rural parts, that the numbers might be low or high metropolitan areas naturally. But it’s not so much maybe the norm, we have a lot of beaches here. So with that a lot of people do not tobacco litter and things like that on the ground, being in a beach state. So we don’t really find that a lot like in our beaches community. So it’s not so much like the norm or necessarily, a cool thing to do, that I have seen. 

[00:02:09] Jake White: Not a culturally accepted thing. But it is very prevalent. And then, if we dive into the cessation part, I have no background in that. I’m in the prevention side of things, like I said, with school assemblies and prevention, curriculum and pure lead programming. But so I’m actually interested in learning, like, what goes into a person having an addiction to nicotine and tobacco products and how you could possibly, go from that to not needing that thing anymore. 

[00:02:47] Monique Johnson: A lot of things going, like why you use tobacco? So the curriculum that I use, it is evidence based. And so let’s say it’s in a group setting. So we may have, hypothetical, maybe about five people, five adults that have used tobacco, they’re wanting to quit. So the curriculum is based on, them developing a plan, a step plan. So they go through the steps. They first review, like, why they want to quit, what is your reason, why you want to quit, what do you have to live for things like that? And one of the common things I saw with that is that people are like, I want to live there, I want to live longer. So when I think about just that in itself, I’m like, Okay, you want to live longer, and then you’re doing something that you know is shortening your life. So then the curriculum dives into the chemical makeup of nicotine in itself, why is it so highly addictive? And just helps them to understand and break that stigma of, it’s me, it’s something wrong with me, I want to quit, and there’s something wrong. And it’s like, no, it’s the nicotine that your body that your brain has become so used to. So we move out of that, and then they actually do like an assessment to help them understand why they use it, Is it to stimulate you? is it for relaxation? Are you doing it for pleasure? Is it out of habit? Is it for craving? So once people understand the why, it helps them to find different techniques that they can use to combat that. So one of the most popular why’s, is pleasure, like a lot of people say that, I do want to quit but I enjoy doing it. So it’s like okay, so what can we do to replace that? Like you’re using maybe tobacco as like a reward system? So it’s like, I’ve cleaned the house. And now I’m going to use tobacco, so it’s like okay, so what can we replace that with? Helping them understand how much money they’re spending per year. And then taking that and say, “Okay, if we were to do this on like a week by week basis, or even day by day, what can we use that money on?” And they’re sitting there and they will come up with, they’re like, I could catch up on bill. I could go on a trip. I can go on a cruise, all these thing. I’m like, “Yes, exactly.” I’m like, so we’re thinking of major things. I’m like, but let’s bring it down to something small, let’s bring it down to like, maybe you want like a steak dinner, or something like that, take that maybe $25, $30 a week, and maybe on Friday or a Saturday treat yourself, you take yourself out and stuff. So it’s a whole lot of things that go into it, I do the curriculum at mental health sites, behavioral health site, substance abuse facilities. And it’s just because that a lot of people who suffer from those types of things, they have a higher use in tobacco everything. So it really helps them to understand that why? Because it flows into their other addictions that they might have. 

“Addressing Stress and Building Healthy Habits: Strategies for Tobacco Addiction Prevention”

[00:06:11] Jake White: That’s fascinating. And what you had said, too, that really struck a chord with me, especially working with youth, is that when you’re building that reward system, we enjoy it. And so it’s releasing dopamine, and these endorphins in their brain, and they get that stimulant. And so you’re asking them to develop a short term stimulant. Because yes, it might take a year to save enough for a cruise. But let’s say you do great this week, you’re going to get to have that steak dinner, or whatever it is, they said they want maybe that pair of shoes. I’m imagining this from a youth perspective. For that you’ve shortened the timeframe to say, hey, one step at a time. Because years is a long time to plan for. Let’s give you a reward quicker than that. That is so cool. I want to ask you a little bit about, like, someone says I use for stress. And that’s what we’re seeing a lot with young people today, is they have this feeling of anxiety and stress. And how would you do that same thing with having another outlet. So what are a few outlets you might recommend, besides smoking, or using tobacco products that people can do to help relieve stress? 

[00:07:27] Monique Johnson: So stress is the number one reason why people use tobacco, and we help them identify that. And it’s a common theme that I’ve heard, like you said, among the youth coming out of the pandemic, I think just mental health, the prevalence of it or just like people knowing about it now is become less stigmatized, and have such a high focus on it now, because the reality is it just brought it to the surface after the pandemic, like wow, people are really out here, struggling and suffering from things and so the youth have been highly affected by that. And they’re using it for stress. And so with the teachings that I do, there is techniques, mental stress, reducers. So that would be like, mindfulness and breathing techniques, things of that nature. And then there’s a physical ones. So it’s more about like getting active. And eyebrows always raised. I say that because people always think like, wait, you want me to go for like a 5am jog? I’m like, no, but if you get addicted, for like youth, if you go outside, maybe because you can be like home, maybe on your game that might stress you or on the phone with a friend, they might be stressing you. So it’s like identifying those areas of when you made vape or when you may smoke more, helping them identify what it is that pattern with it. Now like 9 times out of 10 you’ll find whatever that stressor is to that. And then so now we just have to maybe remove that stressor, so if there’s stress at home and you’re on the phone with a friend or something like they’re stressing you, just getting outside 10 to 15 minutes of like physical activity that’s going to produce those same like dopamine chemicals and endorphins, is going to get that same feeling that you get from the nicotine use. So that’s the major one that the physical stress reducers but I always like to ask them okay, so everyone experiences stress. What do you typically do when you’re stressed? What is something that you reach for other than the nicotine? What is something that you reach for and most of the time I find that and the number one thing I have heard Jake, I kid you not? The number one thing whenever I asked that question, what do you do that distresses you always? I go for a walk. I have not heard anything, I might get different answers later on. But the number one thing that they will say is I go for walk, so its something to that physical activity, getting outside, getting fresh air, maybe it helps to even delay it, like, I really want to like reach for my vape right now, I really want to reach for a cigarette right now. Whatever it is, but I’m going to go outside, I’m going to go for a walk. And I’m going to delay that, so it’s allowing that delay for that crave in the past, because that only last like five minutes. So they can delay it, it’ll help them. 

[00:10:56] Jake White: Cool. And I’m going to point out something you said, too, is, you mentioned with creating stress and waking up in the morning. And maybe you’re playing that video game, maybe you’re using your phone. And you’re probably also talking about throughout the curriculum is your environment. And so giving students and this one I highlight for the audience, if you’re listening to this, and you’re thinking how you might implement these things, or help people create better habits, is if you’re waking up every morning and instantly going to your phone, instantly that stress or that anxiety you felt when you put it down that night, whether you’re logging into social media, checking your emails, is that relationship, you’re getting a text back from that. And if it’s not good, yes, of course, you’re going to use because you’re starting your day off with that stress. And so now you’ve either got to use or choose a healthier alternative. And so like you said, making that morning routine, something great getting up and moving, getting out in the sunshine, like redefining your environment and how you build it, is even as someone who doesn’t smoke, I’m like, there are certain things I want to stop doing anyway, in the mornings, because I just want to feel better throughout the day. And one of those has been like, okay, my phone goes on the dresser, away from the bed. So I have to actually get up out of bed to turn off the alarm. And then I’m going to read my Bible, I’m going to get outside, and work out, do those things. Because then the rest of the day feels great. Feels so good. 

[00:12:26] Monique Johnson: That’s really interesting that you said that about putting it out of reach. Because that’s something I like to say too especially for my early risers that they may use nicotine to help them wake up. Because I find out with a lot of youth and adults, they’re like, like first thing in the morning. I have to do it. And I’m like, where do you normally keep it and majority of them have it right there. Like we keep our phone right there on our nightstand. So it’s reachable even lying over, you grab it, I’m like, Okay, so now we have to make it a little bit inconvenient for you. Like you say, move it to a dresser. I tell them like, if you’re a coffee person in the morning or whatever, you had to gone in your kitchen to make your coffee. I’m like so put it maybe on top of the refrigerator, but make it to where it is not convenient. And just maybe like psychologically, you will allow that process to take place where you’re like, I don’t know, if it’s four in the morning. Do I really want to like get up and get out of bed and go walk into the kitchen right now? And I’m like, you may be surprised. You may actually force yourself to delay it. That’s interesting that you said that. 

“Creating Tobacco-Free School Policies and Protecting Public Spaces”

[00:13:46] Jake White: That’s so cool. I love this conversation. It is so interesting to me. I do want to move to a little bit more. So I’m creeping on your LinkedIn. And I’m looking at in 2012, you created a mentorship program for at risk youth and served on the board of communications for young professionals. Can you tell me more, just anything you want to share about that? And maybe what you learned, are proud of?

[00:14:17] Monique Johnson: So with the mentorship program that was birthed out of me, I was at risk youth, myself, my son that I mentioned earlier, that will be 23 this year. I had when I was 15. So I was a teen mom. I went to college with my son and everything. So that was really from a place of just recognizing the need for positive mentorship. I didn’t have that growing up, not to say that at that I lacked positive influences that was around me or anything like that. But I didn’t have someone that had been through what I was going through at the time. So I didn’t have anyone  relatable or that I could say, I’ve been where you’re at, I know what you’re going through, or to just recognize maybe the signs of it and I can maybe see the path that you’re starting to go down. So let me talk to you and see what’s going on. And so that was birthed out of that, and actually started in my ministry, that I was a part of, and it started there with just a few of the girls that were in the church and everything, and we would go out, we volunteer at a women’s center. So there was a shelter for survivors of domestic abuse, and they needed some sprucing up at a place. So we went and we washed baseboards, and we washed a windows and everything, and we helped restock everything and make beds. And that was like team building. But also it was to give the youth another outlet and to show them like, it’s people out here that are hurting, and you can use your skills to help them. So we would do a little things like that. And I also would go out to the schools, and I would speak to students that they were like having a lot of difficulty with. So young students who may have like a lot of absences from school or weren’t doing so well. And I was really surprised because at the time I’m there, I didn’t have any certification, anything, but they were like, we see your passion, and they’re like, we would letting you talk to them. So I will talk about develops a relationship with some of the students there. It was heartwarming to do that. And with the communications director that was actually through a company, I was with Florida Blue, with Florida Blue, and one of their employee resource groups was young, professional building. So I was the communications director for that and sending out email correspondence, trying to recruit young professionals, to the group and everything like that. We were paired with a lot of C suite level employees, for mentorship, and things like that. So it was to help those 20 to 30 range, help develop those professional skills and things. So those are two really things that I did when I was really young. And I’m like, super proud of it. It really did lay the foundation for like the rest of my career. 

[00:17:35] Jake White: That is really powerful. And I’m just imagining you, the handful of teenagers going into the center and working and bonding and making a difference. And I bet you made a difference in their life. And they probably still look up to you and see what awesome stuff you’re doing. That’s very cool. So today, you’re doing a lot with tobacco cessation and tobacco policy. Talk to me a little bit about the policy side of things. 

[00:18:05] Monique Johnson: I guess I’m the opposite of you. Because like you say, you were more on the prevention side, you don’t really know the cessation. And, that’s for me, I was more on the cessation side. And I did not do the prevention. And so I did a switch. So I was in tobacco cessation, for about three years. And then for the last two years, I’ve been on the prevention side. So it’s been very interesting to see how much policy change really goes into the prevention side of it. So one of the policy changes is like, K through 12 policies, so develop like comprehensive tobacco free policies for the school. So me, I have seven children, like I told you, and six of them are still in public schools. So I just naturally thought that, well, all schools have a tobacco policy, students can’t like vape in class. I know that. And that’s true. Like most schools, they do have that in the Student Code of Conduct here and the district I live in, they have it there. But what we were finding is that there are a lot of schools that do not have like a standalone policy that defines tobacco use and vaping that has set hours like you cannot be on school grounds from this time to this time, or policy that prohibits it from staff and visitors too, so it was really interesting to see that because I just thought it would just be there but it hasn’t been, that’s been really interesting to work on that. 

[00:19:52] Jake White: Okay. I’m intrigued because I never thought like you said, of course you can’t bring smoking paraphernalia on campus. But again, never thought about guests or policies or hours. And I’m curious, is it as simple as going to the school board and saying, can we make this a policy? And here’s the rough draft? Or who do you have to get involved to make this a thing and enforce it? 

[00:20:18] Monique Johnson: So the school board, ultimately have to vote on it. So I’m like it seems such a simple thing. It’s like, yes, of course, we don’t want parents coming, picking up their kids. And having a vape, they’re using a vape as they’re walking into the doors of the school. And it seems so simple. But when you really get into the nuts and bolts of it, it’s like a lot of work in pieces. So I work a lot with people with student climate, like code of conduct and climate, the Mental Health Services piece of it. And so working with that district level that serves the different parts of it, working with them, and presenting a model policy to them, like, this is what we had. But this is what we could have. That is really more comprehensive. And it really breaks it down. And it’s really more understandable. And it protects not only the students, but it protects the staff, it protects the visitors and everything like that. And it covers school grounds. And when we have events that may not be technically on school grounds, but it’s the school of that, like on a part or somewhere. 

[00:21:36] Jake White: There’s so much that I have not thought of. And that’s a lot of what you’re doing now, is helping schools develop those things. 

[00:21:49] Monique Johnson: Yes. So that’s one of the major things that I’m working on. And also our government here, he signed a bill back in July, that gives power to counties, municipalities, to prohibit smoking on parks and beaches in Florida. So that was great. That was amazing. And so a lot of us just at the county level, have been working with our parks and the people who are at the beaches and stuff and working with the decision makers on creating an ordinance if one does not exist, and just getting them to sign that in. So that way it protects the health of people that frequent in parks, frequent in beach. Tobacco litter or cigarette butts are the most common form of litter on beaches and park system. So it really just protects us. And in doing that, I’ve learned that even vape litter is dangerous too, because you have those toxins that come off those heated metals and stuff. And they have a little kid that maybe on the playground, they pick it up, it gets on their hands, little kids put their hands in their mouth, and you think about like the secondhand smoke. It kills 41,000 people per year. So it’s like, that’s a lot of people that die just from being exposed to it. So that’s a major one. So counties and parks have just been passing it like lightning. And it’s just amazing, because I’m like, this is one step closer to create such a healthier space for people in Florida. 

“Empowering Youth Drug Prevention and Tobacco Control”

[00:23:31] Jake White: And are people really receptive to you when you’re going to do this? Or is there any departments like I’m imagining the park, people or maybe law enforcement? Are they saying, Hey, listen, you’re really making my job harder. And then they make you jump through some hoops to get this done or does it feel like they’re partners with you saying, yes, of course. What can we do? How does that relationship go? Are there any challenges you’ve had to overcome to make those partnerships work? 

[00:23:58] Monique Johnson: For the most part, everyone has been pretty much on board. Here at my county, our parks rec director, he has truly been a champion for us with getting like county commissioners and educating them about it. And really, the main role, like my role, day to day role is to educate my community partners. So those their organizations may not do anything in the realm of tobacco prevention, control, anything like that. But they come to monthly meetings that I have. And I talk about these things. Tobacco free parks. Let’s talk about that. Let’s talk about why we need them, why is it needed and educate them. That way they can go out and they can have these conversations with the decision makers like we talked about this and let’s talk about how we can make our parts healthier and things like that. So I have not met any type of resistance and that’s because a lot of our community is super heavily focused in just prevention work. And we recognize the need for recognize that our numbers are a lot higher than what we would like them to be. And so it’s like what can we do to help money? What needs to be done? So I haven’t really faced, like any type of hurdles, maybe the biggest hurdle is making sure that you educate people about it enough. Because I think people knows the surface, tobacco is bad. Tobacco use is bad. And nicotine is addictive. But when you really going to it, and you educate them, people don’t know why secondhand vape is a thing. They’re like, wait, that can dangerous, too. So I’ve been just amazed at the amount of things that people just don’t know. 

[00:25:53] Jake White: Honestly, I could probably talk to you all day. So I’m going to ask you to do another episode at some point, this was absolutely incredible. I appreciate you giving me some of your time and being so generous with your projects and what you’re doing. And I think the real highlight we’re going to gain from this is talking about the cessation movement, the things that our students are saying, and then what’s helping them within the curriculum you described, just in case someone asks, Is the curriculum that you have does have a name?

[00:26:25] Monique Johnson: It just got approved. I just got an email saying to do it. So I do not have the name. I know it’s in Florida. And it should be in other states, too. I’ll email you. We didn’t always have a curriculum for youth. And so we got a lot of prevention and prevention side is covered. Like we could tell them, but once they actually get addicted to it, what do we do than? We got a curriculum, but we’re at piloting stage. And I’m excited to see what happens with it. 

[00:27:25] Jake White: That is so exciting. Well, thank you so much. This was amazing. And for all of you listening to the Party Talk podcast, I hope that you felt empowered, and that you begin to become a better leader in youth drug prevention because of the conversation here today. So we’ll see you next Monday for another episode.