Columbia will host anti-vaping discussion

Nov. 11--COLUMBIA -- The Columbia Youth Services Committee is taking efforts to spread information on the increased popularity of vaping products/ e- cigarettes among teens.

On Wednesday at 7 p. m., the youth services committee is hosting an informal public discussion and forum on vaping in Yeomans Hall, 323 Route 87, Columbia.

On Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention published new laboratory findings, officially identifying a potential chemical of concern linked to vaping product use associated lung injury as vitamin E acetate.

Vitamin E acetate is used as an additive in the production of some e- cigarette and THC- containing vaping products.

There are 2,051 cases of lung injury reported from 49 states, the District of Columbia and the Virgin Islands associated with the use of vaping products, according to the CDC.

In 24 states and Washington D.C., 39 deaths have been confirmed as of Nov. 5, the CDC reported.

Columbia Youth Services Committee Chairman Bill O'Brien said the forum will consist of a presentation on vaping, vape products and health effects followed by a panel discussion.

COLUMBIA, Page 4

------

Columbia will host anti-vaping discussion

Continued from Page 1

Strategies for reducing adolescent vaping will also be addressed in the discussion, according to O'Brien.

Also on Nov. 5, a National Institute of Health- funded study reported current data trends among teens show they prefer vaping mango and mint flavors.

Additionally, in September, the New England Journal of Medicine reported the number of students in grades 8 through 12 who have used nicotine vaping products in the last 30 days has increased significantly from the years 2017 to 2019 -- more than doubling in some cases.

" As it presently stands, a representative from the Connecticut Department of Public Health and Caroline Polsky, a nurse practitioner and co- director of Child and Adolescent Programs at Rushford, will be participating," O'Brien wrote in an email.

" It is important to educate our community about the dangers and harmful effects of these products," he said.

Follow Lisa Massicotte on Twitter -- @LMassicotteTC.

___

(c)2019 The Chronicle (Willimantic, Conn.)

Visit The Chronicle (Willimantic, Conn.) at www.thechronicle.com

Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.