Vaping is on the Rise, and It's Hurting Our Kids

Vaping is harmful to health. Now more than ever, our youth are at risk. The big tobacco industry is directly targeting our youth with flavors from tootie-fruity to unicorn milk.

The facts:

  • There are currently 15,500 flavored tobacco products on the market.

  • Over 85% of youth start vaping because of flavored tobacco products.

  • Over 95% of long-term smokers STARTED before the age of 21.

  • Nearly half a million people die each year from tobacco-related illnesses - more than drug overdoses, AIDS, and car accidents - combined.

Though the legal age to purchase and use tobacco is 21, tobacco companies continue to target our youth. Why? Tobacco companies target youth because addiction is a form of learning and their brains are developing until the age of 25 so it is easier to garner lifelong customers who are young.

OUR kids and OUR communities are at risk.

Washington County has THE HIGHEST rate of smoking in Maine at 12%, the national average is 7%.

Vaping use in the nation is on the rise and particularly among Washington County youth - and the numbers are staggering - over 30%, or 1 in 3 youth under age 21, report vaping.

Parents, teens, and tweens, we urge you to join us TONIGHT, Tuesday, May 18, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. Click here to join the Zoom session.

This free, one-hour workshop is offered monthly via Zoom. If you can’t make tonight’s session, please mark your calendars and join us on June 23 or July 22. See our calendar for details.

POSTTracey CarlsonCE, HPM, SPR