E-CIGARETTES
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Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are battery-operated devices that contain a mixture of liquid nicotine and other chemicals. The device heats this mixture, called e-juice, producing a nicotine aerosol that is inhaled. E-cigarettes are also called vapes, vape pens, e-hookahs, e-pipes, hookah pens or personal vaporizers.
The 2017 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey, conducted by the Minnesota Department of Health, showed that the youth commercial tobacco usage rate increased for the first time since 2000 when the survey first began. The rise was due to e-cigarettes. E-cigarette use among Minnesota high school students peaked around the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, and has decreased since. In 2023, one in seven (13.9%) of Minnesota high school students had vaped in the past 30 days.
The Beginning: JUUL
The rise of market leader JUUL, pictured left, in the 2010s lead to a massive increase in e-cigarette use among youth.
JUUL pods come in youth-friendly flavors and provide a doubled dose of nicotine when compared to typical e-cigarettes. This is dangerous, as nicotine is harmful to developing adolescent brains. Nicotine interferes with brain development and can have a long-term effect on mental health. Even brief or intermittent nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause lasting damage. E-cigarette use by youth and young adults increases their risk of using conventional cigarettes in the future.
"Disposable" Vapes
Unlike refillable or pod-based vapes such as JUUL, disposable vapes are meant to be discarded after a single use. These products come in a wide variety of shapes, flavors, and colors and are becoming increasingly popular. They are not FDA approved nor regulated.
The term "disposable" is misleading. E-cigarettes contain nicotine, plastics, heavy metals, and lithium-ion batteries, all of which cannot be disposed of in the garbage. They are classified as hazardous waste.
E-Cigarettes and Schools
It’s easy for youth to hide e-cigarettes among everyday school supplies in their backpacks. Since the rise of JUUL, other look-alike products have hit the market in a wide range of flavors.
Some schools have gone so far as to ban USB drives, as it is too difficult for teachers to discern between the devices. There are many deceptive products on the market that are designed for youth to hide their use. These include vape hoodies, devices built into working watches, and devices made to look like lipstick or highlighters.
With these issues in mind, ANSR put together the Tools for Schools Toolkit to help schools address commercial tobacco use, including the use of vapes, on school property. The guide also includes tools and resources to adopt and implement a commercial tobacco-free policy.
Regulations
Minnesota law prohibits e-cigarette use in public schools, hospitals, clinics, daycare facilities during hours of operations, and government-owned buildings, including city and county buildings. Minnesota law requires e-cigarette liquids and systems to be sold in child-resistant packaging. E-cigarettes cannot be sold from movable places of business, like mall kiosks or community events, or in self-service displays. Retailers are required to obtain a tobacco license before selling these products and to ensure these products are only sold to those who are 21 years of age or older.
Youth Tobacco Usage & COVID-19
Research has shown commercial tobacco use can affect COVID-19 outcomes. In 2020 ANSR worked with youth advocates in Ramsey County to conduct a pair of surveys of youth in the Twin Cities Metro. The youth assembled and disseminated the survey questions, putting together a survey early during the Stay at Home orders and again in late summer 2020.
Youth Vaping Survey Toolkit:
ANSR created a toolkit, based on the surveys (shown left), outlining youth engagement and survey implementation. This toolkit also includes sample questions to ask, as well as a step-by-step guide on how to create your own survey and engage youth in collecting data.
