In recent years, Oklahoma, like many states, has seen a serious rise in youth vaping. While vaping was initially marketed as a safer alternative to traditional smoking, the rising rate of youth e-cigarette use is leading to long-lasting issues for the upcoming generation.
Oklahoma has made extraordinary strides in reducing the adult smoking rate. Now, the youth vaping crisis demands our urgent attention. According to recent studies, 21.7% of Oklahoma high school students use e-cigarettes — more than double the national average. The ease of access, appealing flavors, discreet designs and deceptive marketing all contribute to the temptation for teens. While most e-cigarettes do not contain tobacco, many contain nicotine — a highly-addictive, tobacco-derived product.
The teen mental health crisis is further exacerbated by Big Tobacco’s deceptive marketing of vapes as a stress reliever. Research by the Truth Initiative shows that during the pandemic, a large majority of young e-cigarette users started using nicotine products to cope with stress, anxiety or depression and have since become addicted.
According to the Surgeon General’s website, brain development continues through age 25. Nicotine exposure during adolescent years can lead to physical and mental health issues that extend into adulthood. The serious health risks associated with underage nicotine use include:
- Learning difficulties
- Mood swings
- Anxiety
- Impulsivity
- Addictive tendencies
- Lung disease and more
Beyond the health risks, the discreet nature of e-cigarettes allows students to use them in classrooms, restrooms and other areas without detection, making them increasingly harder to monitor.
Creating Change Through Education
On January 30, the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) hosted a live virtual panel with experts to discuss the dangerous rise in teen vaping in Oklahoma and explore strategies to address this critical issue. The event provided insight on the unique challenges associated with youth vaping and how TSET and its partners are fighting for a healthier future for all Oklahomans.
“To enact real change on this issue, it’s important to support policies, programs and resources that share a common goal of prioritizing the health and well-being of Oklahoma’s youth,” said Representative Rhonda Baker, Oklahoma House of Representatives. “By educating our youth on the risks of vaping and exploring evidence-based solutions to lowering the vaping rates across the state, we can help build a healthier Oklahoma.”
A full recording of the panel discussion is available online on Facebook, LinkedIn and YouTube.
TSET is on a mission to help younger Oklahomans learn how to live healthier lives through reduced tobacco use and improved nutrition and physical activity, with the goal of creating generational change. The TSET Healthy Youth Initiative uses statewide public health education messaging, youth-led advocacy programs and character-building to affect positive behavior change.
To combat the negative impacts of youth vaping, TSET has focused on dispelling myths about youth vaping and helping teens who are addicted to nicotine quit. Behind the Haze is a TSET-funded program geared toward youth education and prevention. It reminds teens that vapes are NOT just water vapor; they are a melting pot of dangerous chemicals that can have long-lasting impacts on your health.
TSET also offers services for youth vapor cessation. My Life, My Quitä is a free and confidential text-based cessation program designed for Oklahomans ages 13-17. Teens interested in quitting vaping can visit mylifemyquit.com or text “Start My Quit” to 36072.
Lastly, Quit the Hit is an Instagram-based cessation group for teens and young adults who are 13-24 years old and ready to quit nicotine.
“We’re taking this very seriously,” said TSET Executive Director Julie Bisbee. “We’re also advocating at the state level for additional regulations, licensing for vapor retailers and educating the public on the harms brought by vaping.”