Public Health Impact Report on the Dangers of Youth Vaping

Read the report

Flavored nicotine use among youth is an epidemic across the country, state and regionally. In Clackamas County, the problem is even more pronounced, prompting Clackamas Public Health to issue a Health Advisory.

Fortunately, there are proven strategies and community support for solutions that protect youth from the harms of tobacco and vaping products. 

Percentage of flavored tobacco or vaping product use among current tobacco users by selected age groups (Oregon, 2019) 11th graders at 75.1 percent, young adults (18-24) at 64.6 percent, older adults (25+) at 25.5 percent

Health Impacts: Vaping is NOT Harmless

E-cigarettes contain extremely high levels of nicotine: 

  • One JUUL pod can contain as much nicotine as a pack of cigarettes.

Flavors that appeal to children and teens, such as cotton candy, are added to e-cigarettes and other nicotine products to soften the harsh taste and entice new users. 

  • E-cigarettes share many of the same dangers as traditional cigarettes since they contain numerous known toxins, including nicotine. 
  • Nicotine is highly addictive and can cause serious harm in young people, impacting learning, memory, and attention.
  • Evidence shows youth e-cigarette use leads to future use of conventional tobacco products.

Rates of Youth Nicotine Use

Teens overwhelmingly use e-cigarettes over conventional cigarettes, thanks to the tobacco industry’s successful marketing of flavored products. While teen use of conventional cigarettes has fallen dramatically over decades, use of e-cigarettes has skyrocketed to nearly 30% among teens. 

The Portland metro region is experiencing the same epidemic of flavored nicotine use, and the problem is even more pronounced in Clackamas County. When compared to their peers across Oregon, the use of tobacco and e-cigarette products for Clackamas County 11th graders is the highest in the region.

In Oregon, 75% of 11th graders who use tobacco products report that they use flavored products. Compare that with just 25% of adults over the age of 25 and it becomes clear that flavored tobacco has a clear target demographic
In Oregon, 75% of 11th graders who use tobacco products report that they use flavored products. Compare that with just 25% of adults over the age of 25 and it becomes clear that flavored tobacco has a clear target demographic

Rising Rates and Inequities

Brain development continues into the mid-20s, so it is especially harmful for the tobacco industry to market colorful packaging and sweet flavors to young people. However, tobacco companies have a long history of using predatory marketing tactics to attract young people and often deliberately target specific communities. As a result, massive inequities for nicotine product use exist across different communities, most impacting youth of color, LGBTQ youth and low-income households.

Reducing Access: Proven Strategies

Ban the sale of flavored products

  • There are over 300 jurisdictions across the U.S that have imposed flavor bans. 
  • Flavor bans in Massachusetts significantly decreased youth nicotine use, particularly when neighboring jurisdictions also banned the sale of flavored products.
  • Washington County residents overwhelmingly voted (77%) in May 2022 to approve a local flavor ban. This suggests strong public support to protect children from nicotine products and opens the door for other counties or the state to follow suit.  

Remove nicotine from school zones

  • Studies consistently show that youth are more likely to smoke when they live or go to school in neighborhoods with a high density of tobacco retailers.
  • Over half of public schools have a tobacco retailer within a ten-minute walk from campus. 
  • In Clackamas County, there are 136 nicotine retailers within a ten-minute walk from a public school. 

Price promotion regulation

  • The price of nicotine products has a direct and significant effect on usage. In 2018, nicotine industry spent 85%, or $7.2 billion of its total budget, on price promotions.   
  • Youth are more sensitive to nicotine price increases than adults. For every 10% cigarettes price increase, youth use is reduced by 5%.
  • Washington County’s recent flavor ban ordinance also prohibits the use of coupons or price promotions for any tobacco or nicotine product, making them less accessible to youth.
     

Call to Action: Protecting Our Youth

Policy change and regional collaboration can meaningfully reduce access and use of nicotine products. Clackamas County Public Health, working closely with community and regional public health partners, is committed to taking action to protect youth from the harms of nicotine use. Join us!

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  • Join Flavors Hook Oregon Kids, a statewide movement to protect children from tobacco and nicotine use. 
  • Talk with your local corner store about limiting advertising and/or sale of nicotine products.
  • Contact your elected officials or tell your personal story on social media or with reporters to share why prohibiting flavored tobacco is important to keeping teens safe.
  • Support youth in quitting by promoting the tri-county Don’t Lean on Nicotine Campaign. This Is Quitting is peer-to-peer support via text specifically for youth that has shown to be a very effective support tool for youth looking to quit nicotine products (Text QUIT to 88709). Campaign materials can be accessed online.
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  • Advocate for zoning restrictions to limit tobacco retail density near schools. Start by educating decision makers of the problem of youth access to tobacco and nicotine products in.
  • Participate in Student Health Survey to monitor trends in tobacco and nicotine use, inform decisions and actions, and to prioritize resources.
  • Support students in quitting by promoting the Tri-County Don’t Lean on Nicotine Campaign. Peer-to-peer text support is available specifically for youth, and the This Is Quitting has shown to be a very effective support tool for youth looking to quit nicotine products (Text QUIT to 88709).
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  • Work with diverse communities to better understand the impact of flavored tobacco products on youth of color by collecting data in partnership with community.   
  • Support community partners with data, resources, and a platform to elevate their personal stories. 
  • Educate community partners and decision-makers about options to address youth use of tobacco and nicotine use through policy and environmental changes. 
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Pass policies that reduce access of flavored products to youth, including flavor bans, zoning restrictions, and prohibiting price promotions for nicotine products. 

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Resources and More Information

The Oregon Tobacco Quit Line helps you create a quit plan to get ready, take action and live tobacco-free. Quit Coaches, many of whom are former smokers, never pressure you to quit before you're ready. 

  • English: 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) or QUIT NOW 
  • Español: 1-855-DEJELO-YA (1-855.-35356-92) or DEJARLO AHORA 
  • TTY 1-877-777-6534 

Learn about the “Don’t Lean on Nicotine” campaign and join the local effort to help local youth quit vaping:

Phone:503-742-5300
Fax:503-742-5352
Email:publichealthdivision@clackamas.us

2051 Kaen Road, Suite 367, Oregon City, OR 97045

Office Hours:

Monday to Thursday
7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Report a public health emergency or communicable disease 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at 503-655-8411.

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