Fall 2019

Vaping – What YOU Need to KNOW

Key Facts about E-Cigarette Use, or Vaping¹

•    E-cigarettes, vapes, vape or hookah pens, e-pipes, and other vaping products are battery-powered devices that allow users to inhale, or vape aerosolized liquid (e-juice).  
•    Nearly all e-cigarettes contain nicotine.  Nicotine is highly addictive and can harm the developing adolescent brain.  
•    Aerosol from e-cigarettes contains harmful and potentially harmful constituents, such as ultrafine particles, heavy metals like nickel, tin, and lead, and other cancer-causing chemicals.
•    The liquid can contain:  tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabinoid (CBD) oils, and other substances and additives.

On October 2nd, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) issued a news release showing the findings from the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey.

•    One in four Minnesota 11th graders reported using an e-cigarette in the past 30 days, an increase of 54% from the 2016 survey.
•    The jump among eighth graders is even more significant, with nearly twice as many students (11% in 2019 compared to 5/7% in 2016) reported using an e-cigarette in the past 30 days.
•    76% of 11th graders say there are either no, slight or a moderate health risk of using e-cigarettes.

These survey results come to light at the same time the MDH and partners around the country are racing to determine the cause of severe lung injuries associated with vaping.  The latest Minnesota count is not 55 confirmed or probable cases of vaping-related severe lung injuries, and one death.  Nationwide, more than 800 cases have been reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Patients in these investigations have reported symptoms such as:

•       Cough, shortness of breath, or chest pain
•       Nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea
•       Fatigue, fever, or abdominal pain

Some patients have reported that their symptoms developed over a few days, while others have reported that their symptoms developed over several weeks.  A lung infection does not appear to be causing the symptoms.  Twenty-two of the Minnesota cases had interview or medical record information on THC; all reported vaping “black market” THC products. Patients reported vaping a variety of products and at this point, no single product has been directly linked to this outbreak.²

On September 11^th, the U.S. Food & Drug (FDA) issued a press release “Trump Administration Combating Epidemic of Youth E-Cigarette Use with Plan to Clear Market of Unauthorized, Non-Tobacco-Flavored E-Cigarettes Products”.  The FDA intends to finalize a compliance policy in the coming weeks that would prioritize the agency’s enforcement of the premarket authorization requirements for non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarettes, including mint and menthol, clearing the market of unauthorized, non-tobacco-flavored e-cigarette products.

Youth E-cigarette Use is an Emerging Public Health Threat

Currently, the most popular e-cigarette among teens is JUUL, which looks like a USB flash drive and produces little visible aerosol when being used.  Many JUUL pods contain high levels of nicotine – one JUUL pod claims to contain roughly the same among of nicotine as one pack of cigarettes.

Most common reason kids use e-cigarettes include⁴:

•    39%    Use by friend or family member
•    31%    Availability of flavors such as mint, candy, fruit, or chocolate
•    17%    Belief that they are less harmful than other forms of tobacco such as cigarettes

IT’S TIME TO TAKE ACTION

Governor Walz Calls for Aggressive Outreach and Policy Response

Governor Walz has directed the commissioners of health and education to work together to launch an aggressive outreach campaign to provide school officials with information and resources to help as they struggle with vaping in schools.
He has also directed his Administration to determine a set of bold 2020 policy options to combat youth vaping.  
The list of legislative options under consideration includes:  raising the statewide legal age for tobacco to 21;
prohibiting the internet sale of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vaping products; prohibiting the sale of all flavored nicotine and tobacco products; and providing authority for  MDH to declare a public health emergency in critical situations.

Parents

1.    Learn about the different types of e-cigarettes and the risk they pose for youth.
2.    Talk to your kids about the risks of e-cigarette use.  Express firm expectations that your kids remain tobacco-free.
3.    Set a positive example by being tobacco-free.
4.    If you have a teenager who is vaping, share cessation resources. (See below.)

School Staff

1.    Learn about the different types of e-cigarettes and the risk they pose for students.
2.    Develop, implement, and enforce tobacco-free school policies.
3.    Reject youth tobacco prevention programs sponsored by the tobacco industry.
Download a school toolkit.

Communities
Update your Tobacco Policy, options include:
1.    Raise the minimum age to buy tobacco to 21.
2.    Limit sales of flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
3.    Restrict the age of sales clerks handling tobacco products.
4.    Increase funding for comprehensive tobacco prevention and control.

Tobacco Cessation Resources for Youth

Quitting vaping can be tough, but we have resources that can help.  

QUITPLAN SERVICES
Free quitting services available to all Minnesotans. QUITPLAN Services offers a variety of options to help people quit:
• QUITPLAN Helpline (telephone counseling) – All ages
• Printed Quit Guide – All ages
• Email program – Age 13 or older
• Use of quitplan.com – Intended for those aged 14 and above
• Text program – Age 18 or older
• Nicotine replacement therapy – Age 18 or older
To register online , users must be at least 13 years old. Anyone can call 888-354 PLAN (7526) to register at any time.

TEEN.SMOKEFREE.GOV
Smokefree Teen helps teens stop using tobacco by providing information grounded in scientific evidence and offering free tools that meet teens where they are - on their mobile phones.
• Text messaging program
• quitSTART mobile app
• LiveHelp online chat

Find additional resources at:  
https://www.health.state.mn.us/ecigarettes   or https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/

¹ https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe-lung-disease.html²
Minnesota Department of Health, Health Advisory:  Update on Severe Acute Lung Injury Among Patients Who Report Vaping
³ https://www.health.state.mn.us/communities/tobacco/data/docs/2017myts.pdf 
⁴ https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking