Youth E-Cig Use at Epidemic Level: NKY, Richmond Locations Added for Statewide E-Cigarette Conferen
(LOUISVILLE, Ky - November 15, 2018) The Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow has added two more remote participation locations - one each in Florence and Richmond - to accommodate high interest in its statewide, half-day conference on e-cigarettes on December 10 in Louisville. The Louisville conference is full but accepting names for a waiting list; remote locations now have been scheduled in Bowling Green, Florence, Hazard, Paducah and Richmond.
Speakers at the conference will share the latest information about the recent explosion in youth and young adult use of Juul and other e-cigarettes and the health impact of these products, as well as an update on federal proposals to restrict sales. The Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky and Kentucky Youth Advocates also will release at the conference a focus group report regarding Kentucky youth attitudes and perceptions about e-cigarettes.
"We believe that high interest in this conference reflects concern about the explosive grown in e-cigarette use among youth," said Ben Chandler, chair of the Coalition. "Teen e-smoking has reached epidemic levels, escalating dramatically since the introduction of flavored pod e-cigarettes such as Juul and copycat products. Health care providers, lawmakers, educators and advocates need to know what the research says about these products, and how they're impacting future tobacco use and health. We'll also examine the policies that should be enacted to turn back this alarming new trajectory." "E-cigarette use among youth is at now at epidemic levels, escalating dramatically since the introduction of flavored pod e-cigarettes such as Juul and copycat products," said Ben Chandler, chair of the Coalition. "Health care providers, lawmakers and advocates need to know what the research says about these products, and how they're impacting future tobacco use and health. We'll also examine the policies that should be enacted to turn back this alarming new trajectory." Speakers at the "Next Generation Tobacco: The Impact of E-Cigarettes on Kentucky's Future Health" conference will discuss who is using e-cigarettes, vapes, and other Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems (ENDS) in Kentucky, and the potential policies for preventing disease and illness associated with their growing popularity. In particular, speakers will focus on the role of flavors in encouraging underage vaping, the extent to which ENDS actually help people quit smoking, what's in ENDS and whether they are a safer alternative to combustible cigarettes, and the evidence that ENDS are a gateway to smoking for youth and young adults.
The December 10 conference is free, and a light breakfast will be served, but registration is required. Here are the conference locations and times:
In Person Conference:
Louisville: 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (Eastern)
Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky
1640 Lyndon Farm Court, Suite 100, Louisville
Registration is full, but you can sign up for the wait list here.
Remote viewing locations:
Florence: 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (Eastern)
Northern Kentucky Health Department
8001 Veterans Memorial Drive, Florence
Register here.
Richmond: 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (Eastern)
Madison County Health Department
216 Boggs Lane, Richmond
Register here.
Bowling Green: 7:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (Central)
Bowling Green Chamber of Commerce
710 College Street, Bowling Green
Register here.
Hazard: 8:30 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. (Eastern)
University of Kentucky Center of Excellence in Rural Health
750 Morton Boulevard, Hazard (Use the free parking and shuttle service on Roy Campbell Drive; see map.)
Register here.
Paducah: 7:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. (Central)
Barnes Auditorium, Carson-Myre Heart Center
Baptist Health Paducah
2501 Kentucky Avenue, Paducah
Register here.
Brian King, PhD, of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) will open the conference with an overview of the federal position and actions regarding e-cigarettes and other ENDS products. The CDC has said that e-cigarettes are less harmful than regular cigarettes, but still contain harmful substances. The Coalition noted that the Food and Drug Administration, which has not approved them as a quit-smoking aid, is exploring policies to govern nicotine levels and flavors in ENDS and other tobacco products. In addition, the FDA has launched enforcement actions against marketers selling ENDS to minors. King's presentation will be followed by two panel discussions. The first will be moderated by Dr. Aruni Bhatnagar of the University of Louisville. Speakers include: * Dr. Pat Purcell, President, Kentucky Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics * Dr. Scott Weaver, Assistant Professor, Georgia State University * Dr. Audrey Darville, Associate Professor, University of Kentucky * Dr. Melissa Abadi, Research Scientist, Pacific Institute for Research and Evaluation A second panel will react to the youth focus group report and discuss the implications of ENDS on Kentucky's children and adolescents. Moderated by Kentucky Youth Advocates Executive Director Terry Brooks, panelists include: * Allison Adams, President, Kentucky Health Departments Association * Eric Kennedy, Government Relations Director, Kentucky School Boards Association * Amy Barkley, Regional Advocacy Director, Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids A Kentucky youth also will participate in this panel. A complete agenda for the conference is available here. Continuing Education Units are available for physicians, physician assistants, nurses, nurse practitioners and social workers. The premier sponsor for the conference is KentuckyOne Health.
About the Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow
The Coalition for a Smoke-Free Tomorrow is committed to its mission of improving Kentucky's health by protecting Kentuckians from secondhand smoke and other tobacco emissions, and by reducing the high rate of smoking and tobacco use in the Commonwealth. For more information, please visit www.smokefreetomorrow.org.
The Coalition is led by representatives of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association, Baptist Health, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky, Humana, Kentucky Cancer Foundation, Kentucky Center for Smoke-Free Policy, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky Council of Churches, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, Kentucky Health Collaborative, Kentucky Health Departments Association, Kentucky Hospital Association, Kentucky Medical Association, Kentucky Nurses Association, Kentucky School Boards Association, Kentucky Voices for Health, and Kentucky Youth Advocates. Other partners and members of the Coalition represent a broad array of more than 155 groups, including Kentucky business leaders, health advocates, health care providers and payers, educators, and faith community leaders.
Media Contacts:
Bonnie J. Hackbarth
877-326-2583 (Office)
502-552-3770 (Mobile)
Alexa Kerley
877-326-2583 (Office)