Utah Kids Will Kick Butts - and Juul - on March 20 USA - English USA - English India - English

State Leaders Challenged to Fight Skyrocketing Epidemic of Youth E-Cigarette Use

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Mar 15, 2019, 09:00 ET

WASHINGTON, March 15, 2019 /PRNewswire/ -- Kids in Utah will unite against tobacco use on March 20 as they join thousands of young people nationwide to mark Kick Butts Day, an annual day of youth activism sponsored by the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. More than 1,000 events are planned across the United States (see below for a list of local events).

This year, kids are focused on kicking Juul, the e-cigarette that has become enormously popular among youth across the country.

While cigarette smoking among high school students nationwide has fallen to 8.1 percent, e-cigarette use among high schoolers rose by an alarming 78 percent in 2018 alone – to 20.8 percent of the student population. In 2018, more than 3.6 million middle and high school students used e-cigarettes. U.S. public health leaders have called youth e-cigarette use an "epidemic" that is addicting a new generation of kids.

In Utah, 7.6 percent of high school students use e-cigarettes, while 3.8 percent smoke cigarettes. Tobacco use claims 1,300 lives in Utah and costs the state $542 million in health care bills each year.

On Kick Butts Day, youth and health advocates are calling for strong action to reverse the youth e-cigarette epidemic. In particular, they are calling on the Food and Drug Administration, states and cities to ban all flavored tobacco products, including e-cigarettes in flavors like cotton candy, gummy bear and mango that tempt kids. Other effective strategies to reduce youth tobacco use include laws raising the tobacco sale age to 21, significant tobacco tax increases, comprehensive smoke-free laws and well-funded tobacco prevention programs.

"This year on Kick Butts Day, we're challenging policy makers at every level to do their part to reverse the youth e-cigarette epidemic and continue driving down youth tobacco use," said Matthew L. Myers, President of the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids. "We cannot allow e-cigarettes, especially Juul, to addict another generation and reverse the enormous progress we've made in reducing youth tobacco use."

Key facts about e-cigarettes include:

The main cause of the youth e-cigarette epidemic is Juul, which looks like a computer flash drive, is small and easy to hide, delivers a powerful dose of nicotine, and comes in kid-friendly flavors like mango, fruit and mint. According to the manufacturer, each Juul "pod" (cartridge) delivers as much nicotine as a pack of 20 cigarettes.
E-cigarettes pose serious health risks for kids. The U.S. Surgeon General has found that youth use of nicotine in any form – including e-cigarettes – is unsafe, causes addiction and can harm the developing adolescent brain, affecting learning, memory and attention. Studies also show that young people who use e-cigarettes are more likely to become cigarette smokers.

On Kick Butts Day, youth join in creative events including signing pledges to be tobacco-free, learning about the harmful chemicals in tobacco products and organizing rallies at state capitols.

In Utah, activities include:

On March 19, the Governing Youth Council in Weber-Morgan Counties will set up lunch time activities that promote anti-tobacco lifestyles for teens. Time: 11:20 AM. Location: Bonneville High School, 251 E. 4800 S., Washington Terrace. Contact: Lori Greene (801) 399-7189.

The Salt Lake County Health Department and the County Library will hold the second annual Kick Ash Film Festival featuring student-created videos on the dangers of vaping in West Jordan. Time: 6:30 PM. Location: West Jordan Viridian Event Center, 7971 S. 1825 W., West Jordan. Contact: Nicholas Rupp (801) 608-0063.

The Washington County Youth Coalition in St. George will host a kickball tournament to help educate youth about the dangers of tobacco. Time: 3:30 PM. Location: Vernon Worthen Park, 300 S. 400 E., St. George. Contact: Courtney Rasmussen (801) 362-3751.

Students from the North Summit High Hope Squad in Coalville will educate their peers about the dangers of flavorings and vape e-juice and pledge to say no to tobacco/nicotine. Time: 11:30 AM. Location: North Summit High School, 111 E. 100 S., Coalville. Contact: Alyssa Mitchell (801) 694-2056.

Students at North Sanpete High School in Mt. Pleasant will commit to being tobacco-free and to encourage peers and loved ones to quit smoking by constructing and signing a pledge wall. Time: 11:30 AM. Location: North Sanpete High School, 390 E. 700 S., Mt. Pleasant. Contact: JanaKaye Smith (435) 851-1771.

On April 9, students from Morgan High School will host a lunchtime tobacco trivia contest and create a banner for students to pledge being tobacco-free. Time: 11:00 AM. Location: Morgan High School, 55 N. 200 E., Morgan. Contact: Kristi Jones (801) 710-3139.

All events will take place March 20 unless otherwise indicated. For a full list of Kick Butts Day activities in Utah, visit www.kickbuttsday.org/map. Additional information about tobacco, including state-by-state statistics, can be found at www.tobaccofreekids.org.

SOURCE Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids