by Melissa King – Healthspan Action Coalition – February 20, 2025 – In an era where social media often glamorizes harmful habits, a group of dedicated students is taking a bold stand against the rising tide of nicotine addiction. LifeUnvaped, a passionate social media campaign led by Arundhathi Jathin, Karisa Flores, Hudson Lee, and Christian Lee, is working to reshape the narrative around vaping and its impact on health.
The initiative, which also serves as their Community Awareness project for HOSA (an international organization for aspiring health professionals), aims to counter the “positive” perception of vaping often portrayed on social media platforms. Through their Instagram presence (@lifeunvaped), the team is committed to revealing the stark reality of nicotine addiction and its effects on both physical and mental health.
As part of this campaign, Ms. Jathin, who is also an intern at the Healthspan Action Coalition (HSAC) recently interviewed Bernard Siegel, Executive Director of the Coalition. HSAC is building a worldwide, cross-sector societal movement helping to establish a new paradigm in medicine, supporting new medical strategies that intervene in the aging process and offer much better treatment of age-related diseases (dementia, heart disease, cancer, Parkinson’s, and many more). This collaboration between LifeUnvaped and HSAC highlights the growing recognition of youth-led initiatives in addressing public health challenges, including that of extending everyone’s healthspan, or healthy lifespan.
“Being aware of nicotine and vaping addiction is so important because these habits might seem harmless at first, but they can take a serious toll on your health over time,” explains team member Karisa Flores. “It’s not just about the immediate effects- it’s about protecting your future, your lungs, your heart, and your overall well-being so you can live a longer, healthier life. And with LifeUnvaped, we hope to convey that in our workings with HSAC.”
The team’s commitment to this cause extends beyond social media. They have conducted numerous interviews with healthcare professionals, delivered presentations to their school peers, and are actively engaging with junior high schools to organize awareness activities during break times. This comprehensive approach demonstrates their understanding that addressing this issue requires reaching young people through multiple channels.
As LifeUnvaped continues to expand its reach and impact, the team invites you to join their movement by following their Instagram account @lifeunvaped. Stay tuned for their upcoming projects and be part of this crucial conversation about protecting our community’s health and future.
