The use of flavored nicotine by young people is a nationwide phenomenon in the United States. This problem is especially pronounced in Clackamas County, prompting the Clackamas Public Health Department to issue health recommendations. Fortunately, effective strategies and community support exist to protect young people from the dangers of tobacco and e-cigarette products.
Health Impact: Electronic cigarettes are not harmless.
Flavors that appeal to children and teenagers, such as cotton candy, are being added to electronic cigarettes and other nicotine products to soften the harsh taste and attract new users.
E-cigarettes pose many of the same dangers as traditional cigarettes, as they contain a variety of known toxins, including nicotine. Nicotine is highly addictive and can have serious harmful effects on young people, including impaired learning, memory and attention. Evidence suggests that using e-cigarettes among young people can lead to future use of traditional tobacco products.
Teenage Nicotine Use Rate
Due to successful marketing of flavors by the tobacco industry, the vast majority of young people are using e-cigarettes instead of traditional cigarettes. While the use of traditional cigarettes among young people has sharply declined over the past several decades, the proportion of young people using e-cigarettes has skyrocketed to nearly 30%.
The Portland metropolitan area is experiencing a similar epidemic of flavored nicotine use, with the issue being more pronounced in Clackamas County. Compared to their peers across Oregon, 11th grade students in Clackamas County have the highest rates of tobacco and e-cigarette product use in the area.
Rising interest rates and inequality are on the rise.
The development of the brain continues into the mid-1920s, making it particularly harmful for the tobacco industry to market colorful packaging and sweet flavors to young people. However, the tobacco companies have a long history of using predatory marketing to attract young people, often targeting specific communities. As a result, there is a significant inequality in the use of nicotine products among different communities, with the greatest impact on youth of color, LGBTQ youth, and low-income families.
Reducing access: An effective strategy
Sales of seasonings prohibited.
More than 300 jurisdictions in the United States have implemented flavor bans. In Massachusetts, the flavor ban has significantly reduced the use of nicotine among young people, especially when neighboring jurisdictions also prohibit the sale of flavored products. In May 2022, Washington County residents overwhelmingly voted (77%) to approve a local flavor ban. This indicates strong public support for protecting children from the harm of nicotine products and has opened the door for other counties or states to follow suit.
Remove nicotine from school districts.
Research shows that young people are more likely to smoke when living or studying in communities with high tobacco retailer densities. More than half of all public schools have a tobacco retailer located within a ten-minute walking distance from campus. In Clackamas County, there are 136 nicotine retailers located within a ten-minute walking distance from a public school.
Price promotion regulation
The price of nicotine products has a direct and significant impact on usage. In 2018, the nicotine industry spent 85% of its total budget on price promotions, totaling $7.2 billion. Young people are more sensitive to price increases than adults. For every 10% increase in cigarette prices, young people's use decreases by 5%. Washington County's recent flavor ban also prohibits the use of coupons or price promotions on any tobacco or nicotine products, making it easier for young people to access discounts. The call to action is to protect our youth.
Policy changes and regional cooperation can significantly reduce the availability and use of nicotine products. The Clackamas County Department of Public Health is working closely with community and regional public health partners to take action in protecting young people from the harm caused by nicotine use.
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