Tobacco

E-cigarette Use Among Youth Declared an Epidemic: Tips for Parents, Teachers and Health Care Professionals

U.S. Surgeon General Declares E-cigarette Use Among Youth an Epidemic

(source: U.S. Surgeon General Advisory)

The U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory stressing the importance of protecting children from a lifetime of nicotine addiction and associated health risks by immediately addressing the epidemic of youth e-cigarette use.

E-cigarette use among youth has skyrocketed in the past year at a rate of epidemic proportions. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Food and Drug Administration’s National Youth Tobacco Survey, the percentage of high school-age children reporting past 30-day use of e-cigarettes rose by more than 75 percent between 2017 and 2018. Use among middle school-age children also increased nearly 50 percent.

You Can Take Action

We must take aggressive steps to protect our children from these highly potent products that risk exposing a new generation of young people to nicotine. The bad news is that e-cigarette use has become an epidemic among our nation’s young people. However, the good news is that we know what works to effectively protect our kids from all forms of tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes. We must now apply these strategies to e-cigarettes, including USB flash drive shaped products such as JUUL. To achieve success, we must work together, aligning and coordinating efforts across both old and new partners at the national, state, and local levels. Everyone can play an important role in protecting our nation’s young people from the risks of e-cigarettes.

Information for Parents

  • You have an important role to play in addressing this public health epidemic.
  • Learn about the different shapes and types of e-cigarettes and the risks of all forms of e-cigarette use for young people at https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/.
  • Set a good example by being tobacco-free. If you use tobacco products, it’s never too late to quit. Talk to a healthcare professional about quitting all forms of tobacco product use. For free help, visit smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.
  • Adopt tobacco-free rules, including e-cigarettes, in your home and vehicle.
  • Talk to your child or teen about why e-cigarettes are harmful for them. It’s never too late.
  • Get the Surgeon General’s tip sheet for parents, Talk With Your Teen About E-cigarettes, at https://ecigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/. Start the conversation early with children about why e-cigarettes, including JUUL, are harmful for them. 
  • Let your child know that you want them to stay away from all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, because they are not safe for them. Seek help and get involved.
    • Set up an appointment with your child’s health care provider so that they can hear from a medical professional about the health risks of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
    • Speak with your child’s teacher and school administrator about enforcement of tobacco-free school policies and tobacco prevention curriculum.
    • Encourage your child to learn the facts and get tips for quitting tobacco products at Teen.smokefree.gov.

Information for Teachers

  • You have an important role to play in addressing this public health epidemic.
  • Learn about the different shapes and types of e-cigarettes and the risks of all forms of e-cigarette use, including JUUL, for young people at https://ecigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/.
  • Develop, implement, and enforce tobacco-free school policies and prevention programs that are free from tobacco industry influence, and that address all types of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
  • Engage your students in discussions about the dangers of e-cigarette use. To help you, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Scholastic, developed free resources for teachers. These materials can be found at www.scholastic.com/youthvapingrisks.

Information for Health Professionals

  • You have an important role to play in addressing this public health epidemic.
  • Learn about the different shapes and types of e-cigarettes and the risks of all forms of e-cigarette use, including JUUL, for young people at https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov/.
  • Ask about e-cigarettes, including small, discreet devices such as JUUL, when screening patients for the use of any tobacco products.
  • Educate patients about the risks of all forms of tobacco product use, including e-cigarettes, for young people.
  • Encourage patients to quit. For free help, patients can visit smokefree.gov or call 1-800-QUIT-NOW.

CentraCare has resources available at many locations for helping people in their journey to quit tobacco. Learn more here.