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    • The REAL DEAL on Vaping

    The Problem: Alarming Increase in Teens Using E-cigarettes

    social media and teen vaping ratesThree million youth in the U.S. reported using a commercial tobacco product in 2022. According to the 2022 Arizona Youth Survey, nearly 20.5% of teens in Pima County have tried a vape or e-cigarette device at least once in their life. According to the CDC, e-cigarettes have been the most used tobacco product among youth since 2014. The 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) identified that about 1 out of every 30 middle school students reported that they had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days, and about 1 of every 7 high school students reported that they had used e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.

    Vape product safety has been identified as a public health concern. On June 23, 2022, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued marketing denial orders to JUUL Labs, Inc., a leading maker of vape products, after determining that the company had not provided adequate information for the agency to evaluate the product's health risks.

    School staff throughout Pima County report that vape product use is disrupting class time and students’ education. Most e-cigarette products contain nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance that can harm brain development in children, teens, and youth up until age 26.

    There is good news: most teens report that they believe smoking conventional cigarettes is bad for health. They express an understanding of the dangers of second-hand smoke from combustible cigarettes as well.

    As a result of the alarming trends with youth use of e-cigarettes, the Pima County Health Department launched a campaign called “The REAL DEAL on Vaping” in March of 2019 with the aim of educating teens, their parents and guardians, healthcare professionals, and teachers about the health dangers that are emerging with these products.

    The REAL DEAL on Vaping campaign continues to evolve, as the need for youth tobacco prevention awareness and education has increased. Please join us in promoting this county-wide day of action on March 31, 2023!

    What PCHD is doing

    The campaign messages are divided by target audience: teens and adults who live or work with teens.

    In addition to providing resources in the tabs below, PCHD offers on-site presentations about the dangers of nicotine and nicotine addiction to students, parents, and teachers in Pima County. Please contact us to get information.

    It truly takes the entire community to stop nicotine uptake and addiction in our young people. A tobacco-free generation is in reach, and we hope you will join us in keeping our teens informed and these products out of their hands1.

    åflavors in vapes appeal to youths

    Updates 

    March 8, 2023 -
    Truth Initiative: Tobacco's starring role

    CDC: Youth and tobacco use

    March 24, 2022 -
    FDA issues decisions on additional e-cigarette products

    CDC, frequently updated -
    Outbreak of Lung Injury Associated with E-cigarette Use, or Vaping (Source: CDC)

    January 2, 2020 -
    FDA finalizes enforcement policy on unauthorized flavored cartridge-based e-cigarettes that appeal to children, including fruit and mint (Source: FDA)

    December 20, 2019 -
    Amendment to the Federal Food, Drug & Cosmetic Act raises the federal minimum age of sale of tobacco products (Source: FDA)

    April 3, 2019 - Some e-cigarettes users are having seizures, most reports involving youth and young adults (Source: FDA)

    February 21, 2019 - Tobacco use by youth is rising: e-cigarettes are the main reason (Source: CDC)

    Resources

    Resources for parents, teachers, district and school administrators, healthcare providers, etc.

    resource toolkit for the real deal on vaping
    We have developed a toolkit to support parents, educators, and primary care physicians in addressing this issue. 

    Along with the Pima County School Superintendent's Office, we can help you develop a task force at your school or in your district to end the teen vaping epidemic. Call us at (520) 724-7904 to get started.

    The Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids has several resources for understanding the toll of tobacco in Arizona and updates on the e-cigarette industry.

    Printable CDC Poster on Lung Injury related to vape use.

    Real Deal Videos

    The Real Deal Vaping Teens Video The Real Deal Vaping Teens Video
    Real Deal - Teens Video (English|Spanish)
    Real Deal - Mother Video (English|Spanish)
    The Real Deal Vaping Mother Video
    Real Deal - Father Video (English|Spanish)

    Social Media

    A major component of the community education for REAL DEAL on Vaping is a social media campaign. The goal is to meet students where they are: on social media. Below, you can find and download a social media toolkit, and images optimized for Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram feeds.

    This social media campaign is just one part of a comprehensive message that Pima County Health Department and our many community partners are sharing: vapes and e-cigarette devices contain nicotine, a highly addictive substance, and nicotine can harm brain development and health in youth.

    Images:

    A New Generation:    Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram
    Brain Growth:   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram
    Escape the Vape:   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram
    Flavors:   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram
    Hooked in 10:   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram
    Pack or Pod:   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram
    Social Media:   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram
    Truth Hurts:   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram
    Ugly Truth:   Facebook   |   Twitter   |   Instagram


    The Pima County Health Department has launched a first-of-its-kind task force to address the epidemic of vaping in our schools. The Pima County Public Schools Task Force is a collaborative group that has representation from ALL unified school districts in Pima County. The task force is a component of the ongoing REAL DEAL on Vaping campaign.

    The first Pima County Public Schools Task Force Group standing together

    Task Force Members 2019-2020

    Robert Dooley, Ajo Unified School District
    Cherie Gaither, Amphi Unified School District
    Evertte Velasquez, Baboquivari Unified School District
    Chris Lambert, Catalina Unified School District
    Josef Torres, Flowing Wells Unified School District
    Nicole Pargas, Marana Unified School District
    Tanya Read, Marana Unified School District
    Brice Menaugh, Pima County Joint Technical Eductation District
    Jane Ballasteros, Pima County Schools Superintendent's Office
    Matt Stamp, Pima County Schools Superintendent's Office
    Dustin Williams, Pima County Schools Superintendent's Office
    Jeanine Sarnacki, Sahuarita unified School District
    Eugenia Favela, Sunnyside Unified School District
    Eyan Powell, Sunnyside Unified School District
    Scott Hagerman, Tanque Verde Unified School District
    Gary Lewis, Tanque Verde Unified School District
    Brian Lambert, Tucson Unified School District
    Nikki Stefan Tucson Unified School District
    Kevin Carney Vail Unified School District

    Contact Us

    Our Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Team is ready to help!

    Call us: (520) 724-8322 or (520) 724-8619 or (520) 724-7716

    Email us at tobaccofree@pima.gov
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    Ste. 100
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