( continued from page 23 ) or a vape pen ?” It ’ s also essential that physicians talk to parents and help make them informed of names and types of e-cigarettes and the prevalence of e-cigarette use among youth . For parents who use tobacco / e-cigarettes themselves , it is important to avoid smoking or using e-cigarettes in places that adolescents spend time and to keep e-cigarettes and liquid nicotine locked and out of reach .
In helping a patient quit e-cigarettes , you must develop a plan to prepare to quit completely . Help them set a quit date ( within 2 weeks ) to stop use of all vaping and tobacco products , throwing away all vaping devices and e-liquid . Family and friends should be involved as much as possible for maximum success and self-care is important , emphasizing healthy eating , exercise and mindfulness . If a patient isn ’ t ready to quit , Dr . Bricken suggests discussing the “ 5Rs ” including the relevance of quitting , risks of not quitting , rewards related to quitting , roadblocks that may arise , and repetition ( it may take several attempts to succeed ). Make sure to relate to the patient – if you tell them that continued use will be cytotoxic to their lung cells , it won ’ t mean much to them . But , if you remind them that e-cigarette use is associated with asthma exacerbations , which can effect sports performance , that might mean a lot more to them . Frame it so that it impacts them directly .
Nicotine Replacement Therapy , such as a patch , gum or lozenge , are safe and effective in helping adults quit smoking , but have not been approved by the FDA for children under 18 . However , the American Academy of Pediatrics does recommend that if you have a patient who is moderately or severely addicted , it should be considered as an option .
In Kentucky , we have a 15 % tax on wholesale vapor purchases or $ 1.50 per cartridge , which falls in the middle of what others in the country are doing – some states like Minnesota have a 95 % tax on
wholesale , while others do not have any . Kentucky statutes do not allow e-cigarettes in some settings such as any properties owned or operated by the Executive branch , or school properties and school vehicles . Childcare professionals are prohibited from vaping in the presence of a child . As of September 2022 , e-cigarettes are prohibited in body piercing and tattoo shops and public swimming pools run by local government . Several municipalities have ordinances that prohibit vaping where smoking is prohibited .
Dr . Bricken suggested several resources for those interested in learning more or sharing with others . For teens showing signs of dependence or those who are interested in quitting , there are a lot of programs out there to help such as The Truth Initiative , Smokefree Teen , My Life My Quit or 1-800-QUIT-NOW . As has been seen with adults , behavioral counseling for the underlying causes of the addiction often do better towards successful quitting . For parents , he suggests resources such as e-cigarettes . surgeongeneral . gov which includes a conversation guide and video for parents and teens from the FDA as well as the podcast PAVe ( Parents Against Vaping ).
E-Cigarettes : By The Numbers
• 31 % of teens report that flavors are the primary reason that they use e-cigarettes
• Nearly 85 % used flavored e-cigarettes .
• 55.3 % users used a disposable product .
• E-cigarette users have 2.2 times higher risk of having cancer compared to non-smokers .
• E-cigarette users are 2.9 times more likely to initiate cigarette use than non-users .
Kathryn Vance is the Communication Specialist at the Greater Louisville Medical Society .
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