TSET Newsletter

New Campaign Addresses Nicotine Use and Teen Mental Health

Tobacco Stops With Me, a program of TSET, has launched a new statewide campaign to help parents, caregivers and educators understand the connection between nicotine use and teen mental health.

“Talk About Tobacco – False Fix” challenges the misconception that nicotine helps teens manage stress and anxiety. Instead, nicotine can create a cycle that makes those feelings harder to manage.

The spot provides adults with information to recognize potential signs of nicotine use, understand its effects and feel more prepared to talk with young people about tobacco and nicotine products.

“False Fix” will reach Oklahomans through television, radio, print and online platforms. The spot is part of the broader Talk About Tobacco campaign, which offers resources to help adults navigate conversations about nicotine use with teens.

TSET Grant Supports New Accessible Playground in Norman

The City of Norman broke ground on a new chapter for the Kids Space at Reaves Park on October 19, launching a project to create a safer, more accessible playground for children of all abilities. A $598,000 TSET Built Environment Grant will help fund the replacement of the beloved, community-built playground, which has welcomed generations of Norman families since 1999.

The new playground will feature accessible safety surfacing and play equipment, creating more opportunities for all children and families to be active outdoors. By investing in community spaces that encourage physical activity and welcome people of all abilities, TSET Built Environment Grants help Oklahoma communities build healthier environments where residents can connect, play and thrive.

Keeping Kids Well-fed and Nourished

Children and teenagers need a nutritious diet for strong physical and mental development, but consistently eating healthy can be challenging for youth trying to balance busy schedules and those who struggle with food security. In this episode, Melissa Veatch, a registered dietician at the University of Oklahoma Healthy Futures Clinic, offers tips for helping kids eat healthier consistently, and Jeff Marlow, president and CEO of the Food Bank of Eastern Oklahoma, talks about a bold new program that will provide kid-approved healthy meals to students in all 77 counties in Oklahoma.

Office Visit: Expanding Oklahoma’s nursing workforce starts with education

Lance Thomas, interim executive director of TSET

Healthcare access is critical for communities of any size to thrive. Licensed practical nurses, registered nurses and nurse practitioners are the first – and sometimes only – person one may see to prevent or treat a disease or injury.

More than 1.2 million Oklahomans live in a primary care health professional shortage area, according to a 2025 Kaiser Family Foundation report. Decreased access to healthcare means an increased risk to death from cancer, heart disease, diabetes and other life-threatening conditions.

Read the column →

New Campaign Addresses Nicotine Use and Teen Mental Health

Funding Alert

TSET Grant Supports New Accessible Playground in Norman

Keeping Kids Well-fed and Nourished

Office Visit: Expanding Oklahoma’s nursing workforce starts with education