Nashville, Tenn. (CLARKSVILLENOW) — The American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, is working with over 100 schools, including schools in Clarksville-Montgomery County, to demand e-cigarette companies to take accountability for marketing products directly to youth.
On Thursday, January 16, the American Heart Association nationally launched #QuitLying Day with schools holding conversations and pushing for change across the country. Events will continue through January 31.
In conjunction with #QuitLying Day and the fight against the youth vaping epidemic, the Middle Tennessee American Heart Association has been awarded a grant from the Clarksville-Montgomery County Community Health Foundation to launch anti-vaping campaigns in the middle and high schools of Montgomery and Stewart Counties.
Elements of the comprehensive campaign will include curriculum, materials, educational video creation, and an evaluation consultant. These local anti-vaping efforts will commence in the coming weeks.
The number of teens who vape has more than doubled in just the past two years, to 5 million, according to the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey.
More than 1 in 4 high school students reported vaping. E-cigarettes come in thousands of flavors that strongly appeal to kids, including “strawberry watermelon,” “cotton candy” and “mint berry.” Ninety-seven percent of current youth who vape report using a flavored product.
Despite what teens have been told, vaping products are not safe for youth. In addition, e-cigarettes can contain unusually high levels of nicotine – in fact, one e-cigarette pod can contain at least as much nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. Youth who vape are particularly susceptible to nicotine addiction, which rewires the developing brain.
All concerned members of our community are encouraged to visit QuitLying.org and sign the American Heart Association’s letter to Big Vape demanding change for the youth health.
About the American Heart Association’s #QuitLying initiative
#QuitLying is an aggressive, nationwide youth, school and community engagement and awareness campaign designed to hold leading e-cigarette manufacturers JUUL and the e-cigarette industry accountable for their lies to youth about vaping and nicotine addiction.
The campaign empowers teens with facts and tools for social media sharing via the QuitLying.org website. The platform allows students, teachers and parents to access and share educational resources, tips and tools for quitting e-cigarette use, and guidance on becoming activists in the fight wherever they are.
By leading school and community forums designed to elevate the dialogue, the American Heart Association will help combat the industry’s misinformation with facts about the health threats posed by e-cigarette use on youth.
On January 16, 2020, the Association, students, and schools coast to coast are banding together for the first-ever national #QuitLying Day. #QuitLying is part of a three-pronged approach to help end youth vaping. The other elements are a new $20 million research investment, called the End the Lies Youth Vaping and Nicotine Research Initiative, focused on the long-term health effects in youth, and a multi-year fund dedicated to public policy change at all levels of government to prevent youth vaping and nicotine addiction.
Tavia Smith is the client content manager at ClarksvilleNow.com. Reach her via email at tsmith@clarksvillenow.com
Source Link: ClarksvilleNow