COLUMBUS – The Ohio Health Department says it will spend $4 million to help curb the use of vaping and e-cigarettes.
The agency said Tuesday that the funds will go toward creating resources to teach youth and others about the risks of vaping and to pay for public education campaigns.
“The explosive increase in vaping among our youth is a public health crisis, and we must educate them and their parents about the dangers of vaping,” said ODH director Dr. Amy Acton, who cited a 48 percent increase in vaping among middle schoolers and a 78 percent increase among high schoolers.
Approximately $3.3 million will be used to develop resources for community groups to educate young people about the dangers of vaping and curb vaping in their communities, Acton said. The resources might include a web-based youth vaping prevention education module, awareness education for parents, public awareness initiatives and outreach to community stakeholders.
Another $800,000 will be used for public education campaigns aimed at youth and their parents about vaping, as well as the new state law, which takes effect on Oct. 17, prohibiting the sale of tobacco, including vaping products, to individuals younger than 21.
Part of the initiative involves urging school districts to prohibit the use of vaping products and to warn administrators, teachers, parents and students about the dangers of vaping and where to get help to quit.
The federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says the lung illnesses are likely associated with a chemical exposure, but add that it is too early to pinpoint a single product or substance common to all cases so the agency is warning people to consider not using e-cigarette products until it investigation reaches a conclusion.