ReFRESH is an innovative alternative to suspension vaping intervention that follows the Five Major Steps to Intervention, commonly known as the “5 A’s” framework. By using the 5 A’s — Ask, Advise, Assess, Assist, and Arrange — ReFRESH empowers participants to make lasting changes in their health, providing both guidance and support every step of the way. Each module is designed to enhance evidence-based skills linked to student well-being and healthy behavioral change, such as critical thinking, empathy, resilience, and self-regulation. The modules incorporate Motivational Interviewing (MI), Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) techniques, and other research-backed strategies. These approaches help students reflect on their behaviors, manage stress, and develop healthier coping mechanisms while working toward lasting behavioral change.
Module 1: Why Do I Vape?
(Aligned with: Ask)
This module introduces evidence-based strategies to help students understand and address their vaping behaviors. By combining cognitive skills, emotional regulation, and social influence, students reflect on their motivations and identify triggers that drive their vaping behavior. Motivational Interviewing (MI) encourages open, non-judgmental discussions, helping students uncover personal insights. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques help them reframe negative thoughts, and peer stories provide relatable examples that motivate students to set goals for positive change. The goal is to build self-awareness and promote healthier coping mechanisms.
Module 2: Understanding & Responding to My Thoughts & Feelings
(Aligned with: Advise)
In this module, students build on the foundational cognitive and emotional skills from Module 1 by learning new evidence-based strategies. Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) techniques, such as box breathing and grounding, help students manage stress and stay present in difficult moments. Structured journaling guides students in reflecting on their emotions, thoughts, and vaping habits, while vaping-specific CBT applications allow them to identify patterns and develop healthier coping strategies. These tools help students reframe negative thoughts and replace vaping with more constructive behaviors.
Module 3: What Happens to My Mind and Body When I Vape?
(Aligned with: Assess)
This module emphasizes health education to help students understand the physical and mental effects of vaping, particularly on vital organs like the brain, heart, lungs, and sleep. Through evidence-based information, students assess how vaping impacts their health and what it means for their long-term well-being. CBT techniques and behavioral activation are introduced to help break harmful cycles, such as the “sleep-vape loop”. Peer stories and reflection activities reinforce these concepts, allowing students to connect the material to their personal experiences and assess how their vaping behavior affects them individually.
Module 4: Your Body’s Reset – A Step-by-Step Guide to Becoming Vape Free
(Aligned with: Assist)
This module combines behavioral change frameworks, resilience-building tools, and health education to empower students to quit vaping successfully. Students learn actionable strategies based on the Stages of Change Model and the Habit Building and Breaking Framework. These frameworks guide students through the process of making sustainable behavior changes, helping them break harmful habits and replace them with positive ones. Resilience is fostered through self-compassion, coping mechanisms, and pro-active system building, ensuring that students are equipped to navigate setbacks and sustain long-term success in becoming vape-free.
Module 5: Your Resources for Success
(Aligned with: Arrange)
The final module ensures that students have the necessary support to continue their journey to a vape-free life. This module not only connects students with practical resources such as quitlines, support groups, and apps but also provides guidance on how and where to seek help. Through scenario-based learning, students engage in realistic conversations and practice how to approach trusted adults (parents, counselors, clinicians, and more) to ask for help, discuss their struggles, and maintain accountability. By learning how to effectively identify and communicate with their support network, students gain confidence in seeking assistance and establishing a strong foundation for long-term success. Social support and continued engagement are emphasized, ensuring students feel prepared to arrange for follow-up care and seek help when challenges arise.