The following Story was submitted by Cath Tease, the Program Manager for the Northeast WI Area Health Education Center.
Parents, your tobacco talk needs an update! Electronic cigarettes, little cigars, smokeless products, sweet candy flavors, and new products designed to hide addiction in plain sight need to be part of the dinner table conversation. The next generation of dangerous and deceptive tobacco products is here and doesn’t look anything like a pack of cigarettes.
My name is Cath Tease. I am a co-chair of Healthiest Manitowoc County Substance Use Prevention (SUP) Coalition. Our county-wide prevention efforts include eliminating youth access to tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. To be blunt, we are concerned about the changing landscape of tobacco.
School Districts throughout Manitowoc County participate in the Youth Risk Behavior Survey every other year. Data shows that in 2019, one in five Manitowoc County High School-age youth reported using an electronic nicotine delivery system (commonly referred to as a “Vape”). School Resource Officers have reported to our coalition more recently that the vaping epidemic has definitely arrived in Manitowoc County and that students as young as 10-years old have brought vape products into school. Both parents and students agree that vaping is a problem. In 2020, we facilitated several youth and parent focus groups to learn firsthand what students and parents are seeing.
We know that new products and marketing tactics change so fast—it’s tough for parents to recognize tobacco when they see it and even tougher to talk to your kids about the terrible damage tobacco products can do. Parents, our coalition has done the research and we know that tobacco is changing faster than ever. Let us help you keep up!
On Thursday, October 28, at 6:30 PM, the SUP coalition has partnered with Manitowoc Public Library and the Manitowoc Police Department to provide an event titled “Hidden in Plain Sight: Vaping Education for Parents”.
During the 75-minute presentation—which will take place in MPL’s Balkansky Community Room on the Second Floor—parents and other concerned adults will learn the products, understand the industry tactics, and receive resources to help guide meaningful conversations. Participants will walk through our “Hidden in Plain Sight” bedroom to identify products the industry markets to students that make using nicotine and other drugs easy to hide. We’re excited to have a panel of experts to address questions and share resources. Panel participants include Sergeant Paul Krock (Manitowoc Police Department), psychotherapist Becky Richards, guidance counselor Katie Wilsmann, and Sarah Thompson from the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.
As for the evening of the program, while wearing a face mask at the Library isn’t mandatory, it is highly recommended. Also, note that the Balkansky Room will be set up to easily practice social distancing should you prefer to do so.
Registration for “Hidden in Plain Sight” is required. To secure your spot, head to the “Events” page of MPL’s website (www.manitowoclibrary.org) and click on the name of this event on the calendar.
We hope to see you at “Hidden in Plain Sight.” It’s a vital conversation on a difficult topic that absolutely needs to be addressed.