Dare Health has a big message on teen e-cigarette use

By on April 5, 2017

Public Health Education Specialists Alex Batschelet, Brenda Shiflet and Jessica Brown with their billboard designed to bring awareness to the harmful effects of e-cigarettes. (Dare County)

E-cigarette use among youth and young adults has become a public health concern, according to a surgeon general’s report, with use by young adults 18 to 24 years surpassing that of people 25 and older in 2014.

The Health Education staff at Dare County Department of Health & Human Services recently received a grant from Partnerships to Improve Community Health to address the concerns.

Working with Lisa Phillips, Tobacco Free Living Coordinator with the partnership, the team created a message for all to see: E-cigarette aerosol is not “water vapor.”

A local billboard was purchased and an ad put up on U.S. 64 in Manteo. The ad has also been placed on the Health Department website and facebook.

E-cigarette vapor can contain harmful and potentially harmful components, including nicotine. In addition, nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause addiction and harm the developing adolescent brain.

E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth, surpassing conventional cigarettes in 2014. Their use is strongly associated with the use of other tobacco products among youth and young adults.

For more information on e-cigarette use, see the Surgeon General’s fact sheet or contact Alex Batschelet at 252.475.9374 and alex.batschelet@darenc.com.

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