GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – Smoking rates among adults in Wisconsin have fallen to a record low, but that isn’t the case when it comes to the use other tobacco products, especially among teens.
For years there have been efforts to educate the public on the harmful long-term effects of tobacco and smoking.
Dr. Manar Alshahrouri, a Pulmonologist at Prevea Health, tells FOX 11 it’s finally paying off.
“We are down to 16% which is the recent data and it’s nice to see things moving in a better direction.”
Recently the Wisconsin Department of Health Services released a study that suggested smoking rates in adults dropped by 5% in 2017.
“We clearly have a long ways to go, but that was a part of a campaign with healthcare providers, and schools to help denormalize smoking,” said Dr. Alshahrouri.
But when it comes to using other products like e-cigarettes and vapes, officials say the problem is getting worse and especially among teens.
In fact, the Center for Disease Control says vaping by high schoolers has increased by nearly 90% and 50% in middle schoolers.
“It is probable that the e-cigarette is safer than your typical cigarette, but they do have other substances depending on the make of the device, the make of the device, the battery, and how much heat it generates,” he explained.
Since the long-term effects of using these products are still unknown, health care providers and organizations like the American Lung Association are working to educate students and their parents on the potential dangers.
Fox 11 spoke with Dona Wininsky, with the American Lung Association..
“The biggest thing is the kids think if it comes in grape, gummy bear, chocolate, and candy flavors how can it be bad. It must be safer than smoking regular cigarettes. The purpose of the campaign is to make parents aware of the changes, what the products are, and talk to their kids about what’s going on in the tobacco industry these days.”
Cigarette smoking is still the leading cause of preventable disease and death in the United States, accounting for more than 480,000 deaths a year.
