SACRAMENTO, June 10, 2020 – During California State PTA’s Statewide Association Meeting taking place June 9-11, delegates from across the state voted to adopt a resolution to advocate for regulation of e-cigarettes and other “vaping” products, treatment for youth addicted to nicotine, and education of the public on the health effects of vaping.
These products have been marketed to young people by manufacturers despite the adverse effects on their health. The rate of vaping has skyrocketed. More than 25% of high school students nationally reported using e-cigarettes in 2019.
“Vaping is the new smoking, and millions of young people are becoming addicted to nicotine through the use of e-cigarettes and the marketing of these products specifically to them,” said Celia Jaffe, President of California State PTA. “PTA is committed to the well-being of children and families, and our members felt that the issue of vaping was important to address.
“For many years, we actively promoted anti-tobacco education and legislation, and we are happy to see that smoking is at an all-time low among young people,” Jaffe added. “We hope that through our efforts we can help achieve a similar reduction in e-cigarette use.”
The anti-vaping resolution commits California State PTA to educate members of its school communities about the ill health effects and addictive nature of e-cigarettes, and to support legislation, regulations and actions at all levels that:
- Prohibit the use of e-cigarettes and flavored tobacco products in public places and other places where youth may be exposed;
- Prohibit the sale, marketing and distribution of flavored tobacco products and e-cigarettes, including components, accessories, and tobacco product flavor enhancers, to protect the public, especially youth;
- Provide in schools and elsewhere, screening, counseling, intervention, and support, by trained health professionals, for young people who may use or are using products containing nicotine; and
- Encourage the education of PTA members of school and wider communities about the ill health effects and addictive nature of nicotine.
“We created this resolution because children and parents in our community are suffering,” said Jade Chao, President of Palo Alto Council of PTAs. “A mom I know has a son who is hopelessly addicted to vaping. She sheds a silent tear when sending him not to summer camp, but to a rehab clinic. Vaping products are designed to entice and ensnare a whole generation, and we are working to protect that generation – protect their lungs, their developing brains, and their emotional well-being.”
California State PTA is holding an online statewide association meeting this week from June 9-11 in lieu of its annual May convention, which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic. Members from all over the state are attending via video conference in order to adopt important changes to the association’s legislative platform, welcome new units, hear speeches from special guests, and vote on resolutions. Resolutions are proposed by individual units, councils or districts, and those that have been approved at the meeting will serve as a basis for action for all California State PTA members for years to come.