As of May 2019, the U.S. Surgeon General reports, “Tobacco
use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States and
worldwide. … Over the past five decades, (tobacco use) has killed ten times the
number of Americans who died in all of our nation’s wars combined. …
Prevention efforts must focus on young adults ages 18 through 25, too. Almost
no one starts smoking after age 25. Nearly 9 out of 10 smokers started smoking
by age 18, and 99% started by age 26.”
The 2016 U.S. Surgeon General report states, “As cigarette
smoking among those under 18 has fallen, the use of other nicotine products,
including e-cigarettes, has taken a drastic leap. All of this is creating a new
generation of Americans who are at risk of nicotine addiction” due to easier
addictive properties during adolescent brain development (ages 9-25 years).
We also know based on U.S. Surgeon General studies that
increasing price is the most effective tobacco control intervention.
We also know that Colorado is “in the lead” for young people
nicotine product use, to include vaping, compared to the U.S. average.
I just listed a bunch of facts — so what? Well, if you’ve
been paying attention to local media or attending Summit Board of County
Commissioners, town council or community meetings this past summer and fall,
you know we have ballot Measure 1A heroes in our midst, “banging a drum” for
tobacco/nicotine prevention using proven methods. These young women and men are
Summit High School students who are a part of the Youth Empowerment Society of
Summit under the Communities that Care coalition. So let’s listen to their
“beat” and vote yes on 1A!
If you’re curious (and you should be), catch some convincing
words from a few of our young heroes at youtu.be/PbCi7ceHoRc.