March 2026 Newsletter   

Youth Making a Difference In Oklahoma

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Oklahoma youth are stepping up, speaking out and creating meaningful change in their schools and communities through Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL), a program of TSET.

Recently, YAHL members from across the state gathered at the Capitol to meet with lawmakers and share their perspectives on the impact of vaping on Oklahoma youth. Students helped elevate the importance of prevention policies and youth-centered solutions.

At the local level, YAHL students are also making lasting change in their own communities. In Tyrone, youth advocates played an important role in advancing improvements to their school district’s wellness policy. Their efforts helped strengthen guidelines that support healthier environments for students, demonstrating how youth leadership can translate into real policy progress.

YAHL is a statewide program that empowers middle and high school students to advocate for healthier communities. Through leadership development, education and hands-on advocacy, YAHL members work to prevent tobacco use, promote wellness and influence policies that protect the health of all Oklahomans.
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See TSET's Impact in YOUR Community

Explore the impact of TSET in your community through local impact pages.

These downloadable resources provide a snapshot of county and legislative district data, including how local health outcomes compare to state and national rates. Each page also highlights TSET’s investments in programs and grants working to improve health across Oklahoma.

From tobacco prevention to nutrition and physical activity initiatives, these pages offer a clear, local view of how TSET funding is supporting healthier communities.
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New Episode Alert!

TSET Better Health Podcast: Get Your Health Kicks on Route 66

In Episode 57 of the TSET Better Health Podcast, hear how Route 66 got Americans moving across much of the country when it opened 100 years ago.

As Oklahoma celebrates the Mother Road's Centennial, the TSET Better Health Podcast will drive conversation on upcoming Route 66 events that feature fun and physical activity, including a big band dance in Weatherford, the Andy Payne Run in Claremore that honors a local legend and the "Kickin' It On Route 66" centennial event in Oklahoma City.

Tune in on March 31st - available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts - and hear how 25 years of TSET investment continue to build a healthier Oklahoma.

Perspective: Julie Bisbee in the Journal Record

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This month in the Journal Record, Julie Bisbee highlights a growing concern: while cigarette use continues to decline, e-cigarettes are now driving nicotine addiction among Oklahoma youth. Today, high school students are far more likely to use e-cigarettes than traditional cigarettes, and rising nicotine levels in these products are making addiction stronger and harder to overcome.