Vaping

In 2018, the United States Surgeon General declared the usage of e-cigarettes by youth an epidemic, with 3.6 million youth reported that they currently use e-cigarettes. Although an epidemic has been declared, data from the 2019 Minnesota School Survey (MSS) shows that MOST Forest Lake students do not vape in a typical month. The notion that an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure rings loud when looking at this data. Forest Lake can continue to foster a culture that keeps MOST students from starting to vape through continued prevention efforts.

Table 1: http://sumn.org/

Preventing youth from using e-cigarettes/vaping includes education, and communication from parents, teachers, healthcare professionals, and community members, as well as creating policies and laws to prevent the access and advertising to youth. Although prevention works best as a community effort, parents take an important lead and can start prevention efforts at home by:

● Communicating clear expectations around tobacco use including vapes, hookahs, and smokeless products. Take this time to explain why it is important to abstain from these products. Take some time to educate yourself and your family about the harmful effects of tobacco and nicotine products.

● Lead by example, keep your home tobacco free. If you do use tobacco products, work to quit.

● Teach children how to respond to peer pressure, practice what children can say when asked to smoke or vape.

● Encourage positive role models and relationships. Sports, clubs, and youth groups are great examples of positive youth relationships as well as opportunities to create positive relationships with adults.

Prevention at home is centered around communication, having continuous conversations with children will be more effective. When you talk with your children they do listen even when it does not always seem that way.

By Kayla Baker

Regional Alcohol Tobacco and Other Drugs Prevention Coordinator

MN Metro - Region 7

www.rpcmn.org

References:

1. American Heart Association. (2018). How to Keep Kids and Teens from Smoking and Vaping

Retrieved from:

https://www.heart.org/en/healthy-living/healthy-lifestyle/quit-smoking-tobacco/how-to-keep-kids-and-teens-from-smoking-and-vaping

2. Center for Disease Control and Prevention. (2022). Quick Facts on the Risks of E-Cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults. Retrieved From:

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html

3. Center for Disease Control and Prevention (2018). Surgeon General’s Advisory on E-Cigarette Use among Youth. Retrieved From:

https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/surgeon-general-advisory/index.html

4. Minnesota Department of Education (2018). Minnesota School Survey Reports 2013 - 2019. Retrieved from: https://public.education.mn.gov/MDEAnalytics/DataTopic.jsp?TOPICID=242