ESD 112 Attends National Conference on Tobacco or Health
Prevent and Youth Now live-tweeted the event on our Twitter pages (click here to view) and are glad to share some of what was presented.
A highlight was engaging with the U.S. Surgeon General, Jerome Adams. The Surgeon General shared many insights, a few noted below:
- Participants were thanked for attending and encouraged to include more community members in their work. "It's said if you're not at the table, you're on the menu," encouraging participants to get involved and stay involved.
- “Everyone needs to be a minority health specialist. Thank you for implementing strategies for those dis-proportionally affected by tobacco: racial/ethnic minorities, those with mental health disorders and addiction, sexual and gender minorities," reminding participants that cultural competency, equity and inclusion must be at the center of our work at all times.
- "We are at the lowest point of smoking in recorded history, yet smoking is still the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the US," a reminder of why this prevention work matters.
- Dr. Adams spoke about cultural divides: "We need to be better communicators. We need to do motivational interviewing, speak about prosperity, and find out what drives people to act."
- Regarding e-cigarette and vaping devices Dr. Adam's shared, '"Kids think e-cigarettes are safe. My son said the other day, "But Dad it's just flavored water." I told him not to tell anyone he is the Surgeon General's son! Companies are marketing to youth in video games and apps. Kids don't hear the truth from the Surgeon General, in fact, I'd rather have Taylor Swift tell youth not to use."'
- He mentioned companies responding to prevention efforts including Netflix reducing the amount of smoking displayed in the later seasons of Stranger Things after public pressure. Later in the conference it was also mentioned that Gears of War video games will no longer feature any smoking in the future in response to letters and advocacy.
- Participants were informed "Kids are using e-cigarettes at greater frequency than adults addicted to cigarettes. JUUL and e-cigarette companies are hooking our kids like no one has ever been able to before." He continued stating how JUUL has targeted specific populations stating, "85% of African American smokers use menthol e-cigarettes. Over half of youth smokers use menthol e-cigarettes. We have to address menthol e-cigarette flavors if we want to make a difference." It was later shared that this statistic is not a coincidence and that JUUL has marketed towards these audiences intentionally.
- Dr. Adam's celebrated successes stating, "The decline of tobacco use in the US is nothing sort of remarkable. US youth tobacco use today is at 8.1%. Eight states have reduced youth tobacco use to under 5%," sharing later, "This success will only continue if everyone acts boldly, decisively, demands action from government and creates an environment where inaction is unacceptable."
For more on what we learned at the conference, visit our twitter pages for the live-tweeting records at www.twitter.com/preventcc112 and www.twitter.com/supportyouthnow.
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Facebook: @centralvancouvercoalition
Instagram: @centralvancoalition
Twitter: @CentralVan_2018
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Our mission is connecting and supporting communities to build resilience and prevent youth substance use. We envision a healthy, thriving community free of substance abuse.
Email: preventcoalition@esd112.org
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