The Arkansas Department of Health reports the number of young people smoking in the state is rising. The reason is the electronic cigarette. State health officials report that almost one-quarter of high school students in Arkansas never smoked a regular cigarette, but did admit to "vaping", or using an e-cigarette. More information is available in this press release from the Arkansas Department of Health:
In 2013, 263,000 youth who had never smoked a cigarette used an electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The data, from the National Youth Tobacco survey of middle and high school students, also showed that youth who had never smoked conventional cigarettes but who used e-cigarettes were twice as likely to smoke conventional cigarettes as those who had never used e-cigarettes.
In Arkansas, 24.9 percent of youth in grades nine through 12 currently use tobacco. This ranks Arkansas at 40th in the youth smoking rate, when compared to other states.
“We are very concerned about nicotine addiction among youth in Arkansas. Additionally, we do not think youth understand that the risks associated with using an e-cigarette are similar to those of a conventional cigarette” said Gary Wheeler, M.D., Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program.
There is evidence that nicotine’s adverse effects on adolescent brain development could result in lasting deficits in cognitive function. Nicotine is highly addictive. Three out of every four teen smokers become an adult smoker. E-cigarettes also produce carcinogens and small particles that irritate lungs.
This report comes just days after the American Heart Association released a policy statement on e-cigarettes. The statement calls for areas of tobacco control, including clean indoor air laws, taxation, regulation, preventing youth access, marketing and advertising, counseling for cessation, surveillance, and incorporating e-cigarettes language in current tobacco laws.
“We’re worried that these devices are going to diminish the work done by so many in our state to curb tobacco use. Even worse, these devices are normalizing smoking because it is not currently being regulated and there are no laws in Arkansas to prohibit use of these devices in public places,” Wheeler added.
Arkansas was one of the first states to create a law prohibiting the sale of e-cigarette products to minors. However, the law does not have any penalties for those who choose to sell to minors.
There are currently 466 brands of Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) and in 2013, $3 billion was spent on ENDS globally. Many of these products are specifically marketed towards youth because of the sweet, candy-like flavors these devices offer.
Currently in Arkansas, there are 68 known independent vapor shops where ENDS products can be purchased. This number will only increase as the popularity of these devices grows.
“Tobacco use is the single most preventable cause of death in the United States. We must do everything we can in order to prevent youth from accessing these products,” said Wheeler.
