E-cigarettes and Vaping: A Growing Epidemic Among Youth

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2. According to the centers for disease control and prevention • E-cigarettes are not safe for youth, young adults, pregnant women, or adults who do not currently use tobacco products. • The CDC has recognized vaping as an epidemic among our youth today.

3. How big is the problem? • According to a study by the University of Michigan, 45,000 students from 380 public and private secondary schools reported that 1 in 3 seniors used a vape or e-cigarette in 2017. • From 2017-2018 there has been an increase of 1.5 million more youth using e-cigarettes in the US • Equivalent to the population of San Antonio, TX.

4. Punishment for possession of tobacco products by a minor • 1997, SB 55: It is illegal in Texas for a person younger than 18 to possess, buy, consume or accept cigarettes, or other tobacco products. • Penalty up to $250 • Required to attend an E-Cigarette & Tobacco Awareness Program. (Failure to complete class will result in a suspension of the minor’s driver’s license or permit for up to 180 days.) • 2015, SB 97: updated the Texas tobacco law to include the regulation of the sale and distribution of e-cigarettes to minors at retail or by mail order, and the purchase, possession and use of e-cigarettes by minors. (Health & Safety Code, Section 161.252)

5. Tobacco free school policy 2015, SB97 amended Chapter 38.006, Education Code to include e-cigarettes in tobacco-free school policies.

6. New City Ordinance • Effective October 1, 2018 • San Antonio’s Tobacco 21 (T21) Ordinance raises the minimum sale age for all tobacco products from 18 to 21 years of age.

7. What are E-cigarettes? • Battery-operated devices. • How do they work: • They have containers filled with liquid that's usually made of nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals. • A heating device turns the liquid into vapor that you inhale when you take a drag.

8. E-cigarettes vs. vapes • E-cigarettes are known by many names. Sometimes they are called “e-cigs,” “e-hookahs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” “Juul,” and “tanks.” • Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some resemble pens, USB sticks, and other everyday items. Larger devices such as tank systems, or “mods,” do not resemble tobacco products. • Using an e-cigarette is sometimes called “vaping.” • Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes can be used to smoke marijuana oil and other drugs.

9. e-cigarettes vs. Vapes

10. Vape Tanks and mods • Vape tanks and vape mods are the larger vape products. • One reason for there popularity among vape users is the large cloud one is capable of producing. • Vape tanks and mods are the product of choice by those who participate in cloud vaping competitions. Smaller vape pens produce a much smaller mist or cloud.

11. e-Hookah pens

12. juul

13. juul • Introduced 2015, most commonly sold e-cigarette in the US. • Since 2017, Juul use is up 85% (HS), and up 60% (MS). • Highest concentration of nicotin at 59mg. • Each pod equals one pack of cigarettes. • Students go through one pod a day, not realizing how much nicotine they are consuming. • Pods different flavors and look similar to USB drive. • Does not look out of place in the hand of a student or being charged by laptop at school. • Looks techy and easy to conceal. • Online price for starter kit, includes 4 pods and charger about $50.

14. Stealth vaping • Teens are very cleaver about how they use their vapes in public places, including school. • Stealth vaping is a process of inhaling and exhaling to produce as little to no vape mist as possible. • Students can also hide their vape mist by exhaling into their shirt sleeve or down the inside of their shirt.

15. V stealth • V stealth looks like a tube of chap stick but enables the user to exhale a large vape cloud into the v stealth to prevent a vape cloud from being seen by anyone.

16. Reasons for E-Cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students The most common reasons for use: • friend or family member (39%); • flavors such as mint, cotton candy, strawberry, or chocolate (31%); and • less harmful than cigarettes (17%). • Tsai J, Walton K, Coleman BN, et al. Reasons for Electronic Cigarette Use Among Middle and High School Students — National Youth Tobacco Survey, United States, 2016. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep 2018;67:196–200. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.15585/mmwr.mm6706a5.

17. Myths & lure • Won’t harm you • Advertised as safer than cigarettes • Flavors • Scent- Easy to use without being detected • Head rush • Family and friends use them • Smoke competitions may be appealing • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzNh9P-Qd9A

18. advertising • Manufactures use social media & Instagram • Scholarships for students, write essay on the benefits of vaping.

19. What is being vaped?

20. What is being vaped? 1. e-liquids thousands of flavors, bubble gum, cotton candy and grape, hot dog, banana bread, King Crab legs, etc. 2. Different levels of nicotine, 2mg to 59mg. Juul contains 59mg of nicotine in each pod. 3. Marijuana can be vaped in both the leaf form or THC oil. THC is the psychoactive compound that creates a sense of being high.

21. Tobacco concerns • Addiction - developing brain. • Eventually turn to cigarettes. • Nicotine gateway drug, paves the way for alcohol and illicit drug use.

22. Brain development & chronic use Nicotine is highly addictive. Addiction occurs quicker in teens. • Issues Reported: • In-attention • Diminished cognition • Increased agitation • Decline in grades • Increased risky behavior • Rehab may be necessary to overcome addiction • Division of Adolescent Medicine, Stanford, University. www.tobaccopreventiontoolkit.stanford.edu

23. Effects of nicotine addiction ABC news story on the vaping trend • https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EmjVU_jZYV0 (8:15 min.) Student receives rehab treatment for addiction • https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2109648749346263 (1:27 min.)

24. Additional Safety concerns Lithium ion batteries can explode and catch fire. • Dangers of batteries exploding and catching fire https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XeKLMcM8_V0 (1:10 min) • Introduction and use of Marijuana Wax/Oil.

25. Marijuana wax • Highly potent and dangerous. • AKA: Marijuana oil, weed wax, dabbing, butane hash oil (BHO), 710. • Sticky, syrup-like, tinted yellow. • Increased in popularity with HS students.

26. Marijuana wax • Highly concentrated form of marijuana. • Up to 8X the concentration of THC in the plant. • THC exposure can lead to cognitive decline especially in developing brains. • Potency can cause hallucinations, lose consciousness, increased paranoia, commit suicide.

27. Marijuana oil added to vape device • Break off a small piece of the marijuana wax, reheat and melt back into a liquid • Inserted into a vape pod, smoked in e-cigarettes or vape pens. • The vapor can often be odorless and smokeless, so it is easy to conceal.

28. Marijuana oil added to vape device

29. Punishment for possession of thc oil • Possession of less than 1 g THC concentrate oil • State jail Felony, 180 days – 2 years, $ 10,000 • Possession of 1 - 4 g THC concentrate oil • 3rd degree Felony, 2 – 10 years, $ 10,000

30. Visible signs of marijuana influence • May seem unsteady on their feet or appear dizzy • Bloodshot eyes • Laugh inappropriately or seem silly for no reason • As effects wear off, they may become sleepy

31. Behavioral changes from marijuana influence • Tiredness • Hostility or mood swings • Social withdrawal • Depression

32. Changes in interests from marijuana influence • A change in friends • Declining grades in school • Increased absenteeism or truancy • Changes in eating habits • A change in sleep patterns • Loss of interest in sports or other activities • Behavioral problems at school • Brushes with the law

33. Thank you! • Contact Info: • Larry Rodriguez, School Safety Specialist • ESC 20 • 210-370-5616, Office • Larry.Rodriguez@esc20.net