MA Dept. of Health Highlights Dangers of Vape Pens & E-Cigarettes in New Campaign

Thursday, July 12, 2018
GoLocalWorcester News Team

MA Dept. of Health highlights dangers of vape pens & e-cigarettes in new campaign

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has launched its first statewide public information campaign to highlight the dangers of vape pens and e-cigarettes to parents of middle and high school students.

The campaign titled, The New Look of Nicotine Addiction, warns parents that the products are harmful, and that they contain nicotine.

“E-cigarette use among young people is on the rise in the state. It is important that we educate parents about the risks associated with these products, and empower young people to make informed decisions about their health,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders.

The new campaign will be featured on transit, online and through social media channels starting this week.

The campaign also includes posters, flyers and other materials for parents.

One of the leading companies weighs in.

“We at JUUL Labs firmly believe that no young person or non-nicotine user should ever try JUUL or e-cigarettes, and we applaud the Massachusetts Department of Health’s recent campaign to educate and prevent teenage use. This new effort complements our own investment of $30 million over the next three years to, among other things, combat underage use, as well as our ongoing work with social media platforms to remove inappropriate content targeting minors," said JUUL Labs Chief Administrative Officer Ashley Gould.

E-Cigarettes in MA

According to statewide data, almost half of Massachusetts high school students have tried e-cigarettes at least once and nearly one-quarter of them reported using e-cigarettes in the past 30 days.

That rate is nine times higher than adults.

Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharelk added, “The health risks of using e-cigarettes and vaping pens for youth are clear. Nicotine is addictive and has a negative impact on teen brain development, including increased risk for depression, mood disorders, and future substance misuse. That’s why educating parents on these risks is so important.”

EDITOR'S NOTE: This story was updated at 4:07 PM on July 12, 2018.