The fight against the epidemic of e-cigarette and vaping use continues as the New York State Health Department is implementing the "This is Quitting" program. 

The initiative is a free, anonymous text message service that provides youths with 24/7 peer support if they have cravings or are looking for alternatives. In New York State, nearly one in every five high school students reported vaping nicotine, and in Broome County, about 10% of students vape. 

People can join "This is Quitting" by texting "Drop the Vape" to 88709. 

"These kind of programs are extremely essential. What we know is that a cigarette around one milligram of nicotine with the kind of vapes that students are using, there are around 590 cigarettes worth of nicotine in one of those products," Community Engagement Coordinator for Tobacco Free Broome and Tioga Grace Merrill said. "So students are very much so addicted in a way that we haven't seen before. So getting them that help and getting them off of it once they're already addicted is so crucial."