Public health officials push for more tobacco prevention funding, amid e-cig concerns
Often confused for flash drives, e-cigarette pods can be found littered next to gum and conventional cigarette butts on sidewalks all over town these days. In addition to litter, they pose a serious and growing health risk, anti-tobacco advocates say.
Made of plastic, the e-liquid cartridges contain the same amount of nicotine as one pack of cigarettes and come in a variety of flavors like mango, creme and mint.
Companies like San-Francisco-based JUUL Labs are facing increasing criticism from national health organizations that say the company uses marketing strategies appealing to youth. Local health and school officials are also growing more concerned regarding an increase in young people using the devices.
The resemblance to flash drives and the sweet flavors are characteristics most often associated with a strategy to attract younger consumers, critics claim.
Health educator Susan Vileta of Johnson County Public Health said in her four years serving in the position, she's consistently given about two to three talks about tobacco use in regional schools each year. Although traditional tobacco use among youth is at historic lows, officials like Vileta are taking note of the increase in e-cigarette use among teens.
Vileta said it's been difficult and takes time to inform people on the dangers of tobacco, including e-cigarettes, considering the tobacco industry spends an estimated $92 million on advertising and marketing annually in Iowa.
"We've been educating the public on these products for the last 10 years," she said. "But we weren't ahead of the curve."
The Johnson County Public Health Department is working with $75,011 in fiscal year 2018 to partner with schools, public spaces and work sites to eliminate the use of tobacco and e-cigs. They also use the funding to operate Quitline, a web and phone-based support system for those seeking help to quit.
Vileta said when she's in front of a classroom and asks students what they think of smoking in general, about 80 to 90 percent say it's "disgusting" and would never do it. But when she asks what the students think of e-cigarettes, only 40 percent say it's "disgusting" and would never do it.
"The same kids that wouldn't touch a cigarette are using these products," she said.
A 2016 tobacco use survey found that 3 percent of youth in 11th grade in Johnson County reported smoking a cigarette in the last 30 days. The number was higher for e-cigarettes at 4.4 percent.
Quitting is difficult, she said, but the most successful policy that helps smokers quit is the tobacco tax.
In 2007, the Iowa legislature passed a $1.00 per-pack tobacco tax and at the same time increased tobacco prevention spending. The tobacco tax is currently at $1.36 per pack.
A coalition of health officials and activists tried to increase the tax last year by an additional $1.50 but could not get legislation passed, said Eileen Fisher. As president of the Johnson County organization doing tobacco prevention outreach locally, Fisher said that's still one of their goals going into the next legislative session. Another goal is to have casinos in the state ban smoking.
"The tax would help bring youth rates down," Fisher said. "More so than adults who've been smoking longer."
She added that they are also pushing to include e-cigarettes in the tobacco tax.
Fisher said it takes local citizens talking to their legislators in forums and sessions to bring these topics to the forefront.
"If you don't," she said. "It gets lost."
In the meantime, educators like Vileta will continue working to inform the employers, public parks and schools about tobacco prevention.
"If they want me to come out I sure will," she said.
Reach Hillary Ojeda at 319-339-7345, firstname.lastname@example.org or follow her on Twitter at @hillarymojeda