CDC reports suggest the unrestricted marketing and dramatic increases in tobacco use among youth is reversing the progress made to prevent kids using tobacco.
A vital signs report shows about 7 in 10 middle and high school students are exposed to e-cigarette advertising in stores, online and on television making e-cigarettes the most common tobacco product among youth in 2014.
Oneida County Community Health Specialist Corie Zelazoski says the same marketing strategies that were used for cigarettes are leading kids to e-cigarettes...
“…one important thing is they’re being marketed as non-harmful or harm reduced compared to smoking, and there’s just not enough research behind it yet to prove that, so we really want to encourage parents to educate their children, not only behind all tobacco products but including e-cigarettes.”
Zelazoski says e-cigarettes hinder brain development, promote addiction and lead to sustained tobacco use.
She says from 2011 to 2014 e-cigarette use among high school students rose from 1.5 percent to 13.4 percent, and from .6 percent to 3.9 percent among middle school students. For more information visit the health department’s website.
