New Mexico National Guard Unveils Teen Mock Bedroom Tobacco & Drug Prevention Trailer at Chaparral Parent Prevention Expo

Parents in Chaparral and across southern New Mexico had the chance to explore a powerful new tool designed to help families protect youth from tobacco, vaping, and other substances. At the Chaparral Parent Prevention Expo on November 15, 2025, the New Mexico National Guard’s Drug Demand Reduction Outreach Team debuted the Southern New Mexico Teen Mock Bedroom Tobacco and Drug Prevention Trailer—an interactive, walk-through learning experience that gives parents a behind-the-scenes look at the hidden ways teens may store or disguise harmful substances.

Supported in part by the Paso del Norte Health Foundation’s Smoke-Free Initiative, this innovative trailer helps parents and caregivers gain confidence in identifying vapes and other nicotine products, recognizing warning signs, and starting meaningful conversations with their children. Inside the mock bedroom, adults can spot everyday items that may conceal vaping devices or drug-related products—insight that is often surprising but incredibly empowering.

As Kristen Ortega, Smoke Free Project Coordinator with Action for Healthy Kids, shared, “Kids know way more than we do about vaping devices. Demonstrating to parents and caregivers how deceptive devices and containers can look helps connect families to the information they need to prevent youth substance use.”

The Parent Prevention Expo brought together a broad coalition of partners—including the Unified Prevention Coalition, Paso del Norte Tobacco Control Network, New Mexico Department of Health, and local school districts and youth-serving organizations—all working toward the same goal: supporting families and creating healthier, tobacco-free communities.

Thanks to the Health Foundation’s ongoing investment in prevention, families now have access to another valuable resource to help keep youth safe, informed, and substance-free.

Interested in more tools and programs that help protect youth from tobacco and vaping?

Visit the Smoke-Free Initiative at smokefreepdn.org to learn how the Paso del Norte Health Foundation is supporting families, schools, and communities in creating a healthier, smoke-free future.