The Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH), Iowa Department of Education and Gov. Kim Reynolds announced today (Wednesday) the launch of a public awareness campaign designed to reduce youth vaping. Studies suggest up to 25 percent of high school students vape and approximately 11 percent of seniors use e-cigarettes daily. The campaign targets teens and parents using multiple platforms, including SnapChat, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and Hulu. “As a mom, grandma and governor of Iowa, I believe we have an opportunity and a responsibility to combat the teen vaping epidemic,” says Gov. Reynolds. “By increasing awareness and education on the known risks of vaping, we can help prevent our young people from setting themselves up for a lifelong addiction to nicotine.” The campaign also utilizes the close contact school nurses, teachers and administrators have with students by providing them with the tools and information needed to help educate teens and their parents. The new initiative will incorporate existing programs, Iowa Students for Tobacco Education and Prevention (ISTEP) and Your Life Iowa. As of Dec. 4, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has confirmed 2,291 patients had been hospitalized with e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated with lung injury (EVALI). While health officials continue to investigate, nearly all the cases have been linked to products containing vitamin E acetate, which is generally found in THC products. Links with more information about the campaign are included with this story online.
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E-cigarettes and Vaping: Information and Resources for Youth
