Wake County Tobacco-Free Community Forum 2026

The Poe Center for Health Education, in partnership with Wake County Human Services and Wake County Public Schools, invites the Triangle community to discover what’s Beyond the Buzz at the Wake County Tobacco-Free Community Forum.

1 in 5 high school students currently use a vape product – that’s about 6 in every classroom (North Carolina Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 2023). Youth tobacco use continues to be a health crisis.

The Poe Center for Health Education, in partnership with Wake County Human Services, Wake County Public Schools, and the Wake County Tobacco-Free Coalition, invites the Triangle community to help change the narrative.

This youth-led forum will feature a review of current trends and a discussion of action steps to continue moving the needle towards tobacco-free and nicotine-free environments.

This is a FREE event.

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026

Time: 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Location:
Wake County Emergency Services Education Center
221 S Rogers Lane,
Raleigh, NC 27610

• Hear from Wake County youth through a host of powerful Photovoice projects.
• Hear from leading experts on the current trends and health impacts of the vaping epidemic.
• Discuss current and future policies that facilitate tobacco-free environments.
• Create action plans for healthier schools and communities.

Beyond the Buzz is a youth-led forum focused on providing opportunities for youth, parents, and community members to hear about and participate in conversations about strategies that reduce youth tobacco use and to empower communities in the solution.

Questions? Contact Virginia Johnson at [email protected].

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

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Host or Publisher Alice Aycock Poe Center for Health Education