Previous version with corrections: August 3rd, 2023
Krishna Marme is the Scott County Health Department's Community Tobacco Consultant. She says the most recent Iowa Youth Survey shows a decrease an increase in 8th and 11th graders using e-cigarettes (corrected 8/7/23).
One resource to help kids stop is called, "My Life My Quit." The texting tool for teens connects them with a counselor. It's free and confidential.
Scott County plans to expand tobacco addiction prevention to include 3rd graders. Customers must be 21 to buy vape products.
Marme says some kids who vape also start smoking cigarettes. When they use both products, she says they're getting an increased amount of nicotine.
She teaches students about the dangers of vaping in Scott County schools, and works with the Safer Foundation to help spread the word.
Help and resources are available at TobaccoFreeQC.org.
Marme also says vaping devices are collecting in principals' desk drawers. That's because they can't be thrown in the trash. Currently, Davenport schools have about 800 to get rid of. But the waste commission will accept them as electronic waste.
