News and Events

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Indian River Brings Awareness to World No Tobacco Day
May 31, 2020

The Tobacco Free Partnership of Indian River County is educating residents in Indian River on the dangers of youth nicotine use and the manipulative tactics used by tobacco companies for this year's World No Tobacco Day. The World Health Organization (WHO) sponsors World No Tobacco Day annually around the world on May 31. This year's theme is "Protecting youth from industry manipulation and preventing them from tobacco and nicotine use."

The Tobacco Free Partnership educated community members on this year's theme. The education provided highlighted industry tactics to attract youth to their deadly products through advertising at the retail point of sale, print and television advertisements, and kid-friendly-flavors and packaging. Studies have shown that youth who are exposed to tobacco advertisements are twice as likely to start using tobacco products. The Partnership focused on providing education on not only industry tactics but the current products that are attracting youth, electronic cigarettes.

Youth vaping has become an alarming public health threat in Florida and here in Indian River. In 2019, one in four of Florida high school students reported current use of electronic cigarettes.  E-cigarettes typically contain nicotine, which is highly addictive.  Youth may be more sensitive to nicotine since the brain continues to develop until the early to mid-20s, and the developing brain is more vulnerable to the negative effects of nicotine. Evidence suggests that youth who use e-cigarettes may be at higher risk of starting to smoke regular cigarettes.

Preventing youth access to these products and educating community members on industry tactics and harmful products remains a top priority for the Tobacco Free Partnership. Currently, we are coordinating local efforts to inform decision-makers of the benefits of a local tobacco retail licensing. A tobacco retail license also gives the community the ability to address emerging products such as electronic cigarettes and restrict flavors of these products that attract youth. While the industry claims that electronic cigarettes and other products are intended for adults, we know that it is far from the truth. It is our job as community members to remain educated on industry tactics and work to protect our youth from the dangers of nicotine addiction. If you would like more information or find out how you can help, contact Kyleigh Savoie at KSavoie@QuitDoc.com.

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References:

  1. Florida Youth Tobacco Survey (FYTS), Florida Department of Health, Bureau of Epidemiology, 2019.
  2. 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.
  3. Berry KM, Fetterman JL, Benjamin EJ, et al. Association of Electronic Cigarette Use With Subsequent Initiation of Tobacco Cigarettes in US Youths. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(2):e187794. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2018.7794
  4. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. 2018. Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press. https://doi.org/10.17226/24952.
  5. Mann, Nathan M, Nonnemaker, James M., Thompson, Jesse. "Smoking-Attributable Health Care Costs in Florida and Potential Health Care Cost Savings Associated with Reductions in Adult Smoking Prevalence." 2016.