2019 Tobacco-Free Living Setting Updates
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E-cigarettes deemed not safe, especially for our youth.
Schools across the Minnesota are seeking assistance from the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) to address the high rates of e-cigarette use among their students.
Green Vape Poster
From 2014 to 2017, students self reporting on the Minnesota Student Survey show a 49% increase in the number of high school students who used or tried e-cigarettes or vapes in the past 30 days.
With the rapid rise in popularity of e-cigarettes by young people, schools are facing a crisis. SHIP is in a position to help with these growing needs.
Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) toolkit now available.
MDH has assembled a toolkit of information, resources and free curricula to use in schools, offer to parents, and share with students. The toolkit provides resources for Minnesota school administrators, educators, teachers and health services staff who are working to address the use of e-cigarettes and other vaping products in their schools.
Opportunities for taking action along with helpful resources are outlined in the toolkit.
Learn about a few of the great resources SHIP Coordinator, Tina Moen, received at a tobacco conference she went to in August 2019:
If you’d like to learn more about partnering with Wabasha County SHIP, email Tina Moen, SHIP Coordinator or call 651-565-5200.
Tobacco 21: Preventing youth access to tobacco.
Did you know?
Seventy percent of current smokers in the U.S. favor raising the legal minimum purchasing age for all tobacco products from 18 to 21 years according to a 2015 CDC Summer Styles Survey.
Read about Tobacco 21 here. Learn how you can get involved by contacting Tammy Fiedler, Wabasha County Public Health Director, at 651-565-5200 and by scrolling down to previous stories where more tools and resources are available.
“There is substantial evidence that e-cigarette use increases risk of ever using combustible tobacco cigarettes among youth and young adults.”
- Dr. J. Taylor Hays, Medical Director of Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center
The vaping epidemic stops here. Wabasha County stands up for our youth.
Wabasha County recently updated their tobacco policy to assure that definitions include vaping and the new nicotine delivery devices. The County also updated license fees and fines for noncompliance. During the process of making this policy change, Wabasha County identified the need to continue to educate and encourage county-wide collaboration toward implementing Tobacco Twenty-One.
"I am officially declaring e-cigarette use among youth an epidemic in the United States."
- Dr. Jerome Adams, U.S. Surgeon General
The Surgeon General’s advisory is only the fifth in 20 years and is the first to address tobacco use. Many communities are leaders in addressing public health concerns and promoting citizen well-being. They shouldn’t have to wait for the state to act. Our kids need protection now.
The four prior advisories included: Naloxone/Opioids; Alcohol & Pregnancy; Radon; and Salicylates & Reye.
Learn how you can get involved by contacting Tammy Fiedler, Public Health Director, at 651-565-5200 and by scrolling down to previous stories where more tools and resources are available.
Wabasha County updates tobacco ordinance.
For the first time in 17 years, tobacco use is on the rise among our youth. An astonishing 26 percent of high-school students reported using tobacco products in the past 30 days. This is almost a 50 percent increase since 2014. Of special concern is the most popular e-cigarette called JUUL. These battery powered devices allow users to inhale, or “vape” a flavored aerosol, almost all of which contain nicotine.
There is no better time than now for cities and counties to look at their tobacco ordinances and update policies to ensure e-cigarette devices are included to protect our youth.
Recently, Wabasha County updated their policy to assure that definitions for tobacco included these new nicotine delivery devices. Wabasha County also updated the license fee and fines for noncompliance.
Please contact Tammy Fiedler, Wabasha County Public Health Director, at 651-565-5200 for assistance in updating your ordinances.
Did you know?
• Just this past month the FDA declared the use of e-cigarettes by youth an “epidemic.” This public health epidemic can be addressed at the local level.
• According to a recent alert from the Minnesota Department of Health, nicotine is highly addictive and can harm brains which aren’t fully developed until about age 25.
• Youth and young adult exposure can lead to addiction and disrupt learning and attention.
• Because JUUL is shaped like a USB flash drive it can go unnoticed in classrooms and backpacks.
• JUUL’s nicotine salt technology delivers a high dose of nicotine and one JUUL pod contains as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.
