SAGINAW, Mich. (WNEM) – As the number of Michigan teens using nicotine products continues to rise, state health officials are expanding how young people can get help and now it’s all happening in the palm of their hands.

The My Life, My Quit program has launched a new mobile app aimed at helping youth quit tobacco and nicotine products, including e-cigarettes and vapes. Backed by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the tool is free, confidential, and built with teens in mind.

The app offers personalized quit plans, live chat with certified quit coaches, daily progress tracking, and motivational messaging all in real time. It syncs across devices, offering a seamless experience for teens looking to take control of their health.

Pediatric experts say the need is urgent. According to the 2023 Michigan Youth Tobacco Survey, 13.2% of youth reported currently using a tobacco product, with e-cigarettes being the most common. Health officials warn that nicotine exposure in youth can cause long-term brain development issues, addiction, and in severe cases, poisoning in younger children.

“They come in containers that are really attractive,” said Dr. Kristen Goncalves, a pediatrician with C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. “They look like things that hold candy or mints. They come in bright colors. They come in fun flavors.”

“Knowing that these small amounts are so dangerous to a child,” Goncalves added. “It really is an important public health issue that we should address.”

From 2020 to 2023, reported ingestion of nicotine pouches in children increased by more than 760%, according to Goncalves.

The My Life, My Quit program was developed in response to feedback from youth who asked for more accessible, digital-first quit tools. Teens and young adults can enroll by visiting MyLifeMyQuit.org or by texting “Start My Quit” to 36072. No insurance, no cost, just support.

For more information on how to quit tobacco and protect young people from nicotine exposure, visit here.