TOGETHER! for Youth Joins in Statewide Support of Tobacco & Vapor 21 Legislation

Information released by TOGETHER! for Youth, poster available from Jaguar Educational

As part of its work to protect children and teens from cigarette smoking and vaping, TOGETHER! for Youth is informing the public Engrossed House Bill 10741 goes into effect January 1, 2020 at which time it will become illegal to sell tobacco and vapor products to anyone under 21.  In addition to Washington State, Tobacco & Vapor 21 is currently in effect or due to go into effect in 18 states, including Washington DC and Guam.

“Young people in Washington are in the middle of a vaping epidemic,” said Kory Kalahar, Board President of TOGETHER! for Youth. “Raising the legal age of sale for tobacco and vapor products to 21 will reduce the number of children who develop a lifelong addiction to nicotine and save thousands of lives.”

In 2018, one in five Washington 10th graders and one in three 12th graders reported using vapor products according to the Healthy Youth Survey2, a bi-annual survey conducted in schools to measure major adolescent health risk behaviors in Washington State including tobacco, vaping, drug use and many more.  Locally and statewide, more 10th graders who reported smoking also reported lower grades in school (C’s, D’s or F’s) compared to non-smokers.  Nearly all people who smoke begin before age 21 – while their brains are particularly vulnerable to the effects of nicotine – and most young people get tobacco and nicotine products from peers in their social networks who can legally buy them.  Youth who vape are at an increased risk of initiating cigarette smoking so raising the legal age of sale will help protect young people by preventing them from getting tobacco and vapor products from 18, 19, or 20 year olds.

Tobacco kills more than 8,000 Washingtonians each year. Washingtonians can get free help to quit smoking or vaping by contacting the Washington State Tobacco Quitline at 1-800-QUIT-NOW or by accessing a smartphone app at www.doh.wa.gov/quit. Parents and schools can find more information about how to address youth vaping at www.youthnow.me/schools.

For additional information about TOGETHER! for Youth, visit their website.

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Established in 1993, TOGETHER! for Youth is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization providing youth prevention and other services to Chelan & Douglas counties.  Our mission is to engage and mobilize families, schools and the community to advance the health, safety and success of our youth.  TOGETHER! for Youth works to prevent substance use, bullying, violence, crime and suicide for children under the age of 18.  We partner with schools, school districts and community organizations to provide a variety of programs to K-12 students, public parenting courses and a Crime Victim Advocacy program to support crime victims and ensure they have meaningful access to all their rights under the law.