Category: News

“If you’re young and you’re not really sure how to get involved or what your reason is, tobacco prevention is not only a social justice issue, it’s an environmental issue, it’s a human health issue, it’s a healthcare issue. It’s something that touches so many different areas, so if you...

“You’re not a bad parent. This is not your fault. And you are not alone. There should be no shame or guilt if you discover your child is vaping or using tobacco or nicotine. And it’s not your child’s fault either. These products are deliberately designed and marketed to kids...

“You see kids taking basically smoke breaks, leaving class to go to the bathroom or wander around campus just to get another hit and feed that addiction. I’ve talked to kids who say it helps relieve stress, whether it’s school stress or things going on at home or socially. But...

“Talk to kids early about [e-cigarettes] and their risks so that kids know that they can ask questions and that they can be supported. The more positive interactions you have with kids, whether through sports, academics, or just quality time, can go a really long way and open up conversations...

“Tobacco is already more available than McDonald’s or almost any other product. One of the key things is getting a handle on underage people’s ability to access tobacco products, and that means raising the state law to the national law to match. It means investing in licensing so that we...

“I always try to counsel patients and families that pretty much anything that you’re putting into your lungs, that’s not healthy air to breathe or, for certain patients, some prescribed medications by their healthcare provider is really not helpful for your body or for your lungs and has the potential...

“Our local partners are our biggest asset. Working through them and with them to try to initiate tobacco control initiatives in their respective areas is where we focus a lot of our efforts. The locals know their communities better than anybody else, so it’s always great to have champions at...

“When I started this job 2012, [vaping] was limited just to high school. Now it’s in elementary school. And if you think about how children are being manipulated, it will make you angry. Anger is not going to solve this problem; It’s collectively bringing everybody on board, educators, church members,...

​​​​ “As a community we need to stop the vaping industry from harming our children. I don’t want to see another family suffer the loss my family has. Please talk to your children over and over about the dangers of vaping.” 

“The challenges in tobacco prevention and cessation work have grown exponentially with the advent of vaping, e-cigarettes, dab pens, nicotine pouches, synthetic nicotine, vape shops–you name it. Along with this has come some of the most effective and ruthless digital marketing that bombards and targets youth. Big Tobacco and Big...