The Arlington Students About Prevention (ASAP) Club at Arlington High School has successfully introduced Drop It to the community, a youth-led initiative designed to reduce vaping and smoking litter while encouraging healthier lifestyle choices. The project was made possible through a $5,000 Creative Spark grant from Health Resources in Action. 

The initiative began when ASAP students conducted an environmental scan of Arlington, documenting areas with heavy concentrations of discarded vaping and smoking materials, particularly near schools. Following this research, students participated in a brainstorming session to develop creative solutions that would address both the environmental hazard of tobacco litter and support individuals seeking to quit. 

The result is a series of distinctive yellow drop boxes stationed around town. Students collaborated with the Arlington High School woodshop to modify locked wooden boxes, which they then painted and decorated with words of encouragement. Each box features a DROP IT sticker designed by AHS senior Eli Slotnick and includes a QR code linking to vaping cessation resources and support materials. The boxes provide a safe disposal site for vaping materials while serving as visible reminders that quitting is possible. 

"By reducing vaping litter and offering a safe disposal route for nicotine products, the students are addressing both an environmental and health hazard," says Prevention Services Manager Karen Koretsky. "The students wanted to include cessation resources to be supportive of their peers. We applaud them for developing such a creative, community-minded project and thank Health Resources in Action for funding their vision." 

Five boxes are currently installed at locations throughout Arlington. Students plan to expand the program with additional boxes and will monitor them quarterly, safely disposing of collected materials and gathering data on the program's impact. 

For more information, visit ArlingtonMA.gov/PreventionServices.