November 2019
Volume 8, Issue 11
The Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition (STTAC) seeks to build
healthier communities through tobacco-free living in
Chemung, Schuyler, & Steuben, NY.
JOIN US FOR THESE LOCAL EVENTS!
Trends in E-Cigarette Use Among High School Youth in
NYS: 2014‐2018
In September 2018, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration declared youth use of electronic cigarettes to be a national epidemic. According to data from the 2018 New York State Youth Tobacco Survey (NYS ‐YTS), over 27% of high school students report current use of electronic cigarettes (e‐cigarettes) and similar devices, a 160% increase from the 2014 prevalence of 10.4%. Additional analyses indicate that among high school students in New York:
• E‐cigarette use increased significantly between 2014 and 2018 among students in every grade level.
• Among 9th and 10th grade students, significant increases in e‐cigarette use were observed from 2014 to 2016, with no significant increase from 2016 to 2018; for 11th grade students, significant increases were observed from 2014 to 2018, with no significant increase measured in 2016.
• Among 12th grade students, significant increases were observed from 2014 to 2016 and from 2016 to 2018. In 2018, nearly 4 out of every 10 students in 12th grade (36.7%) report current e‐cigarette use, defined as use on one or more days in the past 30 days.
Preventing youth initiation of all tobacco products, including e‐cigarettes, is a priority of the NYS Tobacco Control Program. Almost all e‐cigarettes contain nicotine, a highly addictive drug derived from tobacco that can have lasting effects on brain and cognitive development. With or without nicotine, e‐cigarettes are not hazard‐free and e‐cigarette aerosol may contain heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, ultrafine particles, and other toxins linked to lung disease. E‐cigarette use can undermine established tobacco‐free norms and increase the risk of ever using combustible tobacco cigarettes among youth and young adults.
Sources:
1. U.S. Food and Drug Administration. September 2018. FDA takes new steps to address epidemic of youth e-cigarette use, including a historic action against more than 1,300 retailers and 5 major manufacturers for their roles perpetuating youth access.
2. New York State Department of Health (2018). StatShot Vol. 11, No. 5/ Oct 2018: Electronic Cigarette Use by Youth Increased 160% Between 2014 and 2018.
3. Marynak KL; Gammon DG; Rogers T.; et al. (2017). Sales of Nicotine‐Containing Electronic Cigarette Products: United States, 2015. American Journal of Public Health.
4. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults. A Report of the Surgeon General. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Office on Smoking and Health, 2016.
Source:
1. 2015. Institute of Medicine. Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products. http://www.nationalacademies.org/hmd/~/media/Files/Report%20Files/2015/TobaccoMinAge/tobacco_minimum_age_report_brief.pdf
Join us for a Neighborhood Conversation
Hey Schuyler County, have you been impacted by tobacco products (including e-cigarettes) or know someone who has?
STTAC, Schuyler County Public Health, and Schuyler County Coalition on Underage Drinking and Drugs are partnering up to host two “Neighborhood Conversations.” Join the conversation to help us understand how tobacco is impacting you, your family, and your community.
To thank you for your time, we’re providing a meal and a chance to win a raffle basket. Interested? Call 607-737-2858 to register.
Local Reality Check Update
Reality Check declares that it is time to #DitchJuul! Reality Check youth and their furry friends spoke out against the tobacco and e-cigarette companies on October 9th. Local teens joined youth from across the country to commemorate National Day of Action (NDOA) hosted by the Truth Campaign. The theme for NDOA was animals against human testing- since nobody know’s the long-term effects of using e-cigarettes. The event took place in the form of a social media takeover, nationwide. The goal was to create an inescapable campaign urging Big Tobacco and e-cigarette companies to take responsibility for their actions.
At meetings, we jumped into the retail environment at the Point of Sale. Some of our youth even helped teach the other teens about these concepts. It was great to have some peer-to-peer education happening. We also talked about leadership and empowerment and what they mean to us. We can use these skills to lift others up and create the first tobacco-free generation!
Reality Check youth are leaders among their peers and positive change agents in our community. If you know of any youth in Chemung, Schuyler, or Steuben counties who would be interested in participating in this free youth leadership program, contact Samantha White at (607)737-2858 or spwhite@chemungcountyny.gov.
 Here in New York State, tobacco companies spend more than a half a million dollars every day to place promotions in stores where kids can see them. And the more they see, the more likely they are to start smoking.
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STTAC Contacts
Sarah Robbins, Program Director
SarahRobbins@chemungcountyny.gov | (607)737-2028 X73480
Michelle Larimore, Community Engagement Coordinator
MLarimore@chemungcountyny.gov | (607)737-2028 X73482
Samantha White, Reality Check Coordinator
SPWhite@chemungcountyny.gov | (607)737-2028 X73483
Our mailing address is:
Southern Tier Tobacco Awareness Coalition
103 Washington Street
Elmira, NY 14901