MONROE COUNTY SPOTLIGHTS THE YOUTH VAPING EPIDEMIC FOR TOBACCO FREE FLORIDA WEEK

The federal government declared youth vaping, or e-cigarette use, a nationwide epidemic. In light of these concerns and the misinformation surrounding this topic, the Bureau of Tobacco
Free Florida and Tobacco Prevention Program Manager for the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County, Priscilla Bennett, are helping educate parents, educators, pediatricians and partners on what they need to know about vaping and youth. This year’s Tobacco Free Florida Week, April 22–28, is themed E-Epidemic: Vaping and Youth.

The most popular e-cigarette brand is JUUL,1,2 a device shaped like a USB drive that is available in a variety of flavors and easy to conceal. In fact, youth are using JUUL devices inside school bathrooms and classrooms.3,4,5

Here are the facts:

 Youth vaping has increased dramatically across the country and in Florida. In 2018, about 25% of Florida high school students reported current use of electronic vaping – a 58% increase compared to 2017.6 In Monroe County, 22.1% of Middle and High School youth ages 11-17 reported current use of electronic vaping in 2018.

 Youth are vaping at much higher rates compared to adults. One in four Florida high school students are vaping.7 Only about 4% of Florida adults are vaping.8  The long-term health effects of e-cigarettes are still unknown. E-cigarette devices heat a liquid – usually containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals – and produce an aerosol. This aerosol, aka “vapor,” is NOT water. Some of the ingredients in e-cigarette aerosol could also be harmful to the lungs in the long-term, according to the CDC. For example, some e-cigarette flavorings may be safe to eat but not to inhale because the gut can process more substances than the lungs.9,10  E-cigarettes, including JUUL, typically contain nicotine, which is highly addictive.11 Youth may be more sensitive to nicotine and feel dependent on nicotine sooner compared to adults.12,13,14 According to the manufacturer, a single JUUL pod (the “liquid” refill) contains as much nicotine as a pack of 20
regular cigarettes.15 JUUL uses nicotine salts, which can allow high levels of nicotine to be inhaled more easily and with less irritation.16  The brain continues to develop until the early to mid-20s and the developing brain is more vulnerable to the negative effects of nicotine. The effects include reduced impulse control, deficits in attention and cognition, and mood disorders. Using nicotine in adolescence may also increase risk for future addiction to other drugs.17  Evidence suggests that youth who use e-cigarettes may be at greater risk of starting to smoke regular
cigarettes.18,19,20,21

“The rapid increase in youth vaping has become an alarming public health threat in Monroe County, with an 84% increase between 2016 and 2018 in reported e-cigarette use among youth ages 11-17” said Bennett. “We are committed to addressing these concerns locally and we want parents and educators in our communities to be aware of the issue and our efforts to counteract vaping’s growing popularity.”

Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) clubs at Key West High School, Marathon Middle High School, Treasure Village Montessori, and Coral Shores High School have been working to take a stand against Big Tobacco and vaping in their community with support from the Florida Department of Health in Monroe County. Throughout the school year, students have worked on poster campaigns and outreach events to educate peers on the true dangers of vaping. In June, two youth will represent Monroe County at a statewide SWAT conference in Fruitland Park, FL to collaborate with peers from across Florida and lead the way for addressing vaping in our local schools. Parents and educators should advise youth of the dangers of nicotine; discourage youth tobacco use in any form, including e-cigarettes; and set a positive example by being tobacco free themselves. Tobacco Free Florida is taking steps to educate Floridians about this troubling epidemic through social media campaigns and an educational blog post, which can be found at tobaccofreeflorida.com/eepidemic.

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