El Paso County declares teen vaping “Public Health Crisis”

The El Paso County Board of Health signed a resolution declaring teen vaping a “public health crisis” in El Paso County.

The action comes after teen vaping reached epidemic proportions in the state.

Youth e-cigarette use in Colorado is at 27 percent, the national average is 13 percent. In 2017, almost half of El Paso County high school students reported having tried an e-cigarette.

Youth nicotine has been shown to lead to lifelong addiction and negative impacts on brain development. El Paso County Public Health reports kids who vape are four times more likely to start smoking a year later.

The resolution is in an effort by county leaders to protect the health of the youth in the community by raising awareness and preventing lifelong consequences of vaping.

El Paso County Public Health and other community partners will advocate for tobacco-free policies, promoting tobacco-free environments across the county, such as parks and sports arenas and further data-driven community programming.