Working together to make Aitkin County a healthier place to live, work, and play!
Supported by the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP), Minnesota Department of Health
Vaping
According to the American Lung Association,"E-cigarettes are not safe and can cause irreversible lung damage and lung disease. No one should use e-cigarettes or any other tobacco product. This message is even urgent today following the increasing reports of vaping-related illnesses and deaths nationwide." E-cigarettes contain chemicals harmful to lung health such as heavy metals, carcinogens, vegetable glycerin and propylene glycerol. The developing lungs of youth may be more at risk, making what the Surgeon General refers to as a youth e-cigarette epidemic even more alarming."
Electronic cigarettes, or e-cigarettes, are tobacco products that have been sold in the U.S for about a decade. They include e-pens, e-pipes, e-hookah, and e-cigars, known collectively as ENDS- electronic nicotine delivery systems. They're also sometimes called JUULs, "vapes" and "vape pens." While much remains to be determined about the lasting health consequences of e-cigarettes, there's evolving evidence about the health risks of e-cigarettes on the lungs- including irreversible lung damage and lung disease.
What are E-Cigarettes?
The main competent of e-cigarettes is the e-liquid contained in cartridges. To create an e-liquid, nicotine is extracted from tobacco and mixed with a base and may also include flavoring, colorings and other chemicals (such as formaldehyde and aroclein, which can cause irreversible lunch damage).
Most common reasons youth use e-cigarettes
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39 % Use by "friend or family member"
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31% Availability of "flavors such as mint, candy, fruit, or chocolate"
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17% Belief that "they are less harmful than other forms of tobacco such as cigarettes"
Public Health Concerns about use by Young People
Cigarettes
According to the American Lung Association, "Every year in the U.S., more than 480,000 people diet from tobacco use and exposure to secondhand smoke, make it the leading cause of preventable death in this country. Tragically, each day thousands of kids still pick up a tobacco product for hte first time.
Health Effects
Smoking and use of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, cigars and smokeless tobacco, cause or worsen numerous disease and conditions. Learn more about how smoking and using tobacco impacts your health.
What is in a Cigarette?
Arsenic, lead, tar are just a few of more than 7,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke. See what else is in a cigarette.
Kids and Smoking
The best way to prevent tobacco-related illness and death is to keep kids from starting smoke in the first place. See why kids start and get tips to talk to your kids about smoking
Become a SmokeFree Teen
Download quitSTART
The quitSTART app is FREE smartphone app that helps you quit smoking with tailored tips, inspiration, and challenges.
The quitSTART app helps you:
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Create your own Quit Kit which customized tips and materials. The more information you add about your smoking habits, the better the app can personalize content to fit your needs.
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Check your progress and earn badges for smokefree milestones and other achievements.
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Get back on track if you have a slip and smoke
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Manage cravings and bad moods in healthy ways
Speak to an Expert
Talking to someone about quitting smoking can be the support you might need to see it through. Consider talking to an expert for help.
Phone
800-QUIT-NOW (800-784-8669)
All states have quitlines with counselors who are trained specifically to help smokers quit. Call this number to connect directly to your state's quitline
877-44U-QUIT (877-448-7848)
The National Cancer Institute's trained counselors provide information and support for quitting in English and Spanish.
Become a SmokeFree Women
Smokefree Texting Programs
Choose from the following programs:
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Smokefree TXT (is a mobile text messaging service designed for people across the United States who are trying to quit smoking.
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SmokefreeMOM (is a mobile text messaging program that provides 24/7 tips, advice, and encouragement to help pregnant women who want to quit smoking.
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Practice Quit (is a text messaging program for smokers who want to quit, but want to get comfortable with not smoking for short periods of time first.
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Daily Challenges (a program for smokers who want to build quitting skills before trying to quite)
My Life My Quit
Tobacco 21 Resources
Why This Matters
Nicotine is addictive and particularly harmful to the developing adolescent brain. Evidence suggests that nicotine interferes with brain maturation and can have a long term effect on cognitive development and mental health. The long-term effects of nicotine on the adolescent brain is a significant public health concern.
E-Cigs 2.0: The Next Generation
E-cigarettes are battery-operated devices that contain a mixture of liquid nicotine and other chemicals. This device heats this mixture, called e-juice, producing nicotine aerosol that is inhaled: E-cigarettes are also called e-hookahs, e-pipes, vape pens, hookah pens, or personal vaporizers.
Retail Resources
Minnesota Retailer Training
This training is available in English, Spanish and Somali. The Minnesota tobacco retailer training is designed to help tobacco retailers comply with Minnesota and federal laws that regulate the sale of tobacco, electronic delivery devices, or e-cigarettes, and tobacco-related devices.
