On Twitter, Members of the American Vapor Manufacturers called out the errors in the "kids and vaping" story (originally posted 8/3/2023). Spokesman Gregory Conley quoted statistics from the Iowa Youth Surveys conducted in 2018 and 2021.
"When it comes to youth at the Iowa state level and at the local level in Scott County, we have seen large decreases in usage since 2018, 2019. When you look at the actual chart and the data, you see for instance, 8th grade usage declined, 8% to 4% over three years, 11th grade usage declined 23% to 14%."
Eighth grade usage declined 8% to 4% over three years, 11th grade usage declined 23% to 14%.Gregory Conley, Director of Legislative & External Affairs, American Vapor Manufacturers
Krishna Marme, the Scott County Health Department's Community Tobacco Consultant, admitted her mistake and sent the correct data. In addition, the Iowa Youth Survey does not include data about what type of liquids they used when vaping.
For many years, Conley says Iowa's former Attorney General, Tom Miller, was the most progressive leader on tobacco harm reduction in America. But says Miller also recognized how e-cigarettes, or vapes, helped many adults quit smoking.
"When he saw all the data in the mid-2010s showing we have a product, vaping products, that are appealing to smokers that are helping them switch, and the exposure levels of cardinogens, toxicants are 95-99% less than cigarettes. So you have a Democrat attorney general in Tom Miller who came out forcefully saying that we should tell the truth to smokers."
The manufacturers say the good news is children and teens across the country are getting the message that e-cigarettes and vapes are not for them. And the industry agrees the products should not be sold or marketed to children and teens. Conley says it's wrong to claim there is some sort of perpetual crisis when it comes to youth and tobacco use.
"That does not mean that you need to go out to the public and say these things are wildly dangerous, we need to protect the youth by banning things. Rather, we should restrict marketing, restrict sales, but allow adults to get their hands on these products because they can otherwise legally buy deadly cigarettes."
