E-cigarettes and Vaping: The New Tobacco Battleground
After years of decline, tobacco use is rising across the country, especially among youth. Fueled by the unfounded “this is safer than cigarettes” message that tobacco companies have peddled to the public, e-cigarette use among high-school students has jumped more than 15% since 2016.
The term e-cigarette, or electronic cigarette, covers a variety of delivery systems for nicotine or cannabis based products. These battery powered devices produce an aerosol made from heating a liquid form of the desired substance. Various flavoring can be added to the liquid cartridge, making the taste of smoking more appealing to young users. Vaping is a common term for e-cigarette use, and Juul is the most popular brand in the US.
Community Commons has curated the following resources to help you tackle e-cigarette use in your community.
Youth and Young Adults
According to the American Heart Association, an estimated about 3 million high school students, or 20 percent, used e-cigarettes in 2018, compared to 22,000 students, or 1.5 percent, in 2011. Between 2017 and 2018 alone, 1.5 million more young people used e-cigarettes – a nearly 80 percent increase among high school students and a nearly 50 percent increase among middle school students.
Since nearly all tobacco use begins in adolescence, this dramatic rise in numbers has sparked renewed research and prevention efforts.
Policy and Tobacco Control
Public policy and information campaigns helped reduce combustible cigarette use from over 42% in 1965 to 14% in 2017. That same work is now being applied to e-cigarettes, with hope that the success that comes from experience will turn the rising tide of the vaping epidemic.
Resources for Prevention and Cessation
Fortunately, there are already a number of reputable anti-tobacco organizations retooling their work to fit this new crisis.
Cross-Cutting Theme: Mental Health and Substance Use
Those dealing with mental health issues are among the most common users of tobacco products, adding an extra layer of support needed to help them avoid or quit using tobacco.
One helpful way to work across two or more of the Vital Conditions for Health & Wellbeing is to consider cross-cutting themes, which help us address complex challenges through a holistic, interconnected approach.
The following resources are geared toward those with mental health issues combined with substance use.
Cross-Cutting Themes: Working Across the Vital Conditions
Story
-
Original
Brought to you by Community Commons
Alcohol and Drug Misuse and Suicide an the Millennial Generation - a Devastating Impact
Resource - Policy Brief
Brought to you by Well Being Trust
Related Topics
