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Langley High School senior Rujvi Thakkar is taking her campaign against youth vaping directly to teenagers, using TikTok and Instagram to spread a peer-led message about nicotine addiction.
Thakkar said she launched CleanLungs in April 2025 after watching friends struggle to quit nicotine without judgment-free support. Since then, the student-run initiative has attracted more than 21,000 followers and generated over 3 million views across the two social platforms.
“A lot of younger people have access to nicotine, and that is one reason why it spreads,” Thakkar said.
CleanLungs uses relatable online content to explain the risks and long-term effects of newer vaping products. The group’s website warns that one vape pod can contain as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes.
Thakkar has also taken the campaign beyond social media. She said CleanLungs has reached more than 1,600 students across Virginia through workshops and other outreach efforts while distributing more than 500 prevention kits.
Her work, which includes a partnership with 10-7 Farms, was recently recognized with a mayoral proclamation from the City of Fairfax.
Thakkar is now planning to extend CleanLungs outreach into college towns, bringing its substance-use education efforts to post-secondary students.
“The most important thing is knowing that it’s bad for you and knowing that you are in control of your own decisions,” Thakkar said.