HJAR Jan/Feb 2020

HEALTHCARE JOURNAL OF ARKANSAS I  JAN / FEB 2020 39 Nathaniel Smith, MD, MPH Director and State Health Officer Arkansas Department of Health breathing after vaping should go to their primary care physician as soon as possible. If a patient has the above symptoms, health care providers should keep vaping-related lung illnesses in mind even as they work to first rule out other possible diagnoses with similar symptoms, such as flu or bacterial infection. If vaping-related illness is suspected, contact the ADH Outbreak Response staff at 501-537-8969. While people of all ages are vaping, it is increasingly popular among youth. Vaping is more discreet than smoking cigarettes. E-cigarette makers work with social media influencers to showcase use on their pages, among other marketing tactics. The U.S. Surgeon General declared a youth vaping epidemic in December 2018, and data show how Arkansas youth have been affected. As many as 44.3 percent of high school seniors have vaped, according to the Arkansas Prevention Needs Assessment (APNA) conducted in 2018. Overall, 25 percent of the state’s youth in grades 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th have tried vaping, with 16.8 percent vaping in the past year. The average age of teens to first try vaping is 14 years. Teens who might not try traditional tobacco products are trying e-cigarettes because they think they are safe. InArkansas, 65 percent of teens surveyed through APNA said cigarettes were bad, while only 24 percent said e-cigarettes were bad. In reality, most vaping products have not undergone a FDA safety review. Vaping is not a safe alternative to smoking. People can buy pods of liquid for their devices that are flavored like fruit and candy, but they also contain nicotine. Nicotine is addictive. Some e-cigarette labels do not disclose that they have nicotine, even though one vape pod can have the same amount of nicotine as an entire pack of cigarettes. Nicotine harms the developing brain, which is not fully developed until a person is in their twenties. Ask patients of all ages if they vape, and talk about the risks of vaping as part of routine care. Vaping needs to be specifically mentioned because many patients do not consider vaping and smoking to be the same. If needed, provide resources to help them safely quit tobacco and nicotine. Anyone age 13 or older who would like to quit tobacco and nicotine can call Be Well Arkansas at 833-283-WELL (9355) to speak to a wellness counselor and receive coaching. Nicotine replacement therapy is also available to qualifying patients age 18 and older at no cost. The wellness counselors are available from8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday. To learn more about the outbreak of vaping-related illnesses, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) webpage at https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/ basic_information/e-cigarettes/severe- lung-disease.html. You can also reach out to the ADH if you have concerns or need help. TheADH can also help with cessation training available for school nurses and counselors. Email adh.tpcp@arkansas.gov for more information. n “25% of the state’s youth in grades 6th, 8th, 10th, and 12th have tried vaping, with 16.8%vaping in the past year.”