Washington State is currently experiencing an opioid abuse and overdose crisis involving prescription opioids and heroin. State and governmental agencies, local health jurisdictions, professional groups and community organizations across Washington State have been actively building networks and capacity to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with opioids.
E-cigarettes and Vaping
Since e-cigarettes appeared on the scene, they’ve been getting more and more popular with teens. About 7 years ago, 10 percent of high school students had tried e-cigarettes. In 2017, close to 28 percent of high school seniors said they’d used e-cigs in the past year. Even though they don’t produce tobacco smoke like regular cigarettes, e-cigarettes are not harmless. When you vape, you’re inhaling several poisonous chemicals.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is warning the public about a teen vaping epidemic in America. The FDA also wants to educate teachers and parents about certain products that are designed to look like flash drives and are easily hidden from teachers in schools. There’s also a process underway to review the use of flavorings used in e-cigs. E-cig flavorings are popular with teens, but they bring health risks of their own. Many years ago, the FDA banned the use of flavorings in regular cigarettes, and they could do the same with e-cigs. Check out the public service announcement below. It’s from the FDA’s Real Cost campaign about the e-cigarette epidemic. In the comments, tell us what you think
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