2019 Winter HSI Newsletter_RCSD

REDWOOD CITY SCHOOL DISTRICT PARENT EDUCATION SERIES VAPING/JUUL EDUCATION WORKSHOP Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit Thursday, May 2, 2019, 7:00pm - 8:30pm John F. Kennedy Middle School (Gym) 2521 Goodwin Avenue, Redwood City, CA 94061 FREE for all parents!

RCSD Wellness Committee Meeting Thursday, April 18, 2019, 2-3:30pm Sequoia Healthcare District (Conference Room) 525 Veterans Blvd, Redwood City, CA 94063 Please join parents and community partners to discuss and learn more about Health & Wellness activities in RCSD! All are welcome!

Andrea Garen, MA, RD

Director of Health and Wellness

Redwood City School District

Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit presents this informative parent workshop.

Attendees will leave feeling well informed about the physical impact and risks of vaping and e-cigarettes.

How to talk with your children about vaping Adapted by Michelle Remond based on Lisa Damour’s article, published in the New York Times 02/14/2018 (https://nyti.ms/2ExIj3b) Electronic cigarettes (also known as “vapes”) have become one of the many dangers that parents want to avoid for their children.

Share the concern



Vaping involves using an electronic cigarette to inhale a flavored aerosol that contains nicotine.

* Experimenting with vaping may be less risky than experimenting with other drugs, but there are health consequences, especially for the young developing body and brain.



Many vaping companies advertise their products as a "healthy" alternative to cigarettes.

* Substances in the body can lead to an addiction, especially in children and teenagers.



However, research has shown that nicotine is a substance that affects the adolescent brain and involves health risks.

* Nicotine is very addictive and, when withdrawn, causes anxiety. Why take the risk?



The only way to avoid nicotine addiction and health risks from e-cigarettes is to not use them.

Accept your limits

Consider their point of view 

If we tell young people, “The research says… " they probably will not listen to us.

And if you ask, “Do your friends vape?” they may become defensive.



The best option to start the conversation is to ask youth what they know about vaping and if they have questions or concerns.

Ask why 

Teens have their reasons for vaping. Youth may find it attractive since some brands look like a portable USB, and they are easy to carry and use without being noticed by school authorities.



It may also seem cool to vape, and the flavors are appealing.



Parents can say: "It's not about ruining your fun. It’s because I love you, and I care about your future.”

 Some

parents force their children to obey, which causes more rebellion. It is better to say: "Vaping causes harm and I expect that you’ll stay away from that. You will decide for yourself, not me."

 You

can also add, "If we discover that you are using it, there will be consequences in the house." Clear limits help youth make better decisions.

Left: regular cigarette Right: Juul device

As difficult as it may be, talking to children about drugs leaves the door open for dialogue, and provides them with attention, information, and love. That closeness is one of the most powerful antidotes in preventing addiction.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT Dear HSI Community, We want to inform families about a recent upsurge in the use of vaping devices by middle and high school students. Teens who vape nicotine may find it difficult to stop, as nicotine is extremely addictive. They often think it's just water vapor, but the enticing fruit, candy, and mint flavored solutions can contain high levels of nicotine, along with other toxic chemicals, that are harmful to the developing teen brain.

Assorted vape pens

Suorin Drop

FACTS

They are marketed as JUUL, Suorin Drop,

Suorin Air, or Phix. These devices are small and easy to conceal.  They can look like a thumb drive, can be recharged in a laptop, and can be refilled with other substances such as THC/ marijuana oil. There is minimal vapor, and the only odor may be that of fruit, candy, or mint, which appeal to youth. The nicotine in one JUUL pod at least equals that in a pack of cigarettes (20 cigarettes).

JUUL

HAVING A CONVERSATION Ideally, it’s best to start the conversation with your teen without causing alarm. Get their perspective, and ask “why” before suggesting “why not.” Realize that they may have done their own extensive online research. Share your concerns and the facts, while understanding that facts may not be initially accepted by your teen. The frontal lobe of the brain, responsible for decision making and critical thinking, has not yet fully matured. Try to determine if your teen is surrounded by vaping activity, takes part socially, or uses by themselves. Also keep in mind that the use of substances is often intertwined with mental health issues, so seek help for your teen if you are concerned about signs such as depression or anxiety.

Other devices, often referred to as “wax pens,” are sold specifically for the vaping of marijuana. Similar to other marijuana For further information: NY Times: Talking products such as “edibles” (marijuana in with Teens About Vaping cookies, cakes, candy, etc.), these vape devices are marketed to youth, despite the For a list of local community resources, click HERE. legal age of 21 for use of nicotine, tobacco, or the recreational use of marijuana.

Nicotine Poisoning Alert By 2015, e-cigarette use by

As of 2016, the federal government requires liquid nicotine to be sold in childproof

high school and middle

packaging. The American Academy of Pediatrics

school students had

(AAP) urges parents who use e-cigarettes to store

surpassed cigarette use.

the products and any refill materials in childresistant packaging and out of the reach of children.

There are three routes of exposure that are toxic:

4 out of 5

who have

1) the child can be exposed to nicotine even without swallowing, through the mucous

used tobacco started with a flavored product.

membrane in the mouth 2) the child swallows the e-liquid, and it is absorbed by the intestinal tract

A single Juulpod contains

40 mg of nicotine, which is more than the nicotine yield of a pack of cigarettes.

3) the e-liquid is absorbed through the skin, just like a nicotine patch The bottles are sold in various sizes, from 10 milliliters (2 teaspoons) to more than 30 milliliters (6 teaspoons) and come in a variety of nicotine strengths. Five milliliters (1 teaspoon) of concentrated liquid nicotine can be fatal for the

63% of Juul users do not know the product always contains nicotine.

Resource list for parents: 

flavorshookkids.org



tobaccofreeca.com



truthinitiative.org



nobutts.org



FDA Tobacco Products



Glossary of Terms

average 26-pound toddler.

Liquid Nicotine Poisoning Symptoms:     

Vomiting Fast heartbeat Jittery and unsteady appearance Difficulty breathing Increased saliva

If you suspect your child was exposed to liquid nicotine, call the Poison Control Center hotline: 800-222-1222 immediately.

For more info, visit the Poison Control website.

This article above is an excerpt from the online article “Liquid Nicotine Used in E-Cigarettes Can Kill Children.”. To read the full article, click HERE.

VOICES

Talking to Youth

Preschool

Preschool to Age 7

Ages 12 and up

Before the Talk

Lay the Groundwork Whenever you give a fever medicine or an antibiotic to your child,



Know the facts.



Be patient and ready to listen. 

you can discuss why and when these medicines should be given.

Take Advantage of Teachable Moments

tobacco-free.

The #1 reason young people try these devices is because they have flavors in them.



nicotine addiction, and what smoking does

in a nonjudgmental, open-ended way, you're

advertisement, for example, take the opportunity to talk about it. 

Explain the addictive nature of

vaping.



Why don’t you want me to use ecigarettes?

more likely to get an

You go to the bathroom,

Show your kids that you're there’s a zero percent listening and really paying chance that anyone’s attention to them by smoking a cigarette and “So what I am hearing you there’s a

need to talk,” you might ask

Answer Their Questions*

about drugs. By asking the questions

practicing active listening:

Rather than saying “we

When you are out and about and see an

It looks like a USB drive. It doesn’t look suspicious.

Ask them what they think

honest response.



about a situation you witness together.

TV with a cigarette, talk about smoking,

Ages 8 to 12

Start the Conversation

your teen what he or she thinks

If you see a character in a movie or on

to a person's body.

Set a example by being

50/50 chance

say is— ”

that there’s five guys

Current events, such as

Juuling.

What’s the big deal about nicotine?  

Aren’t e-cigarettes safer than

conventional cigarettes?

I thought e-cigarettes didn’t have nicotine— just water and flavoring? 

Keep the Conversation Going

steroid use in professional



Share resources listed below.

sports, can be



Remind and repeat.

springboards for casual conversations about the legal and health consequences of drug use.

For the source of these tips and additional talking tips, click HERE.



Watch the video Juulers Against Juul

with your teen.

*For the answers to these questions and additional talking tips, click HERE.

WINTER 2019

HEALTHY SCHOOLS INITIATIVE FACTS

What you need to know Statistics from the ¹2017 Youth Risk Behavior Survey and ²2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey)

30%

of high school students drank some amount of alcohol in past 30 days¹

21%

of high school students and 5% of middle schoolers used e-cigs in the past 30 days ²

Dear HSI Community, On December 18, 2018, Surgeon General Dr, Jerome Adams issued a rare advisory: “I am officially declaring e-cigarette use {vaping} among youth an epidemic in the United States.” (https://e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov) The young developing brain is more susceptible than the adult brain to nicotine addiction.

Indicators of withdrawal for active users can include symptoms such as anxiety, mood changes, loss of focus, and sleep problems.

78%

increase in e-cig use among high school students from 2017 to 2018, and 48% for middle schoolers²

these devices, along with advice on how to start a conversation with your teen. Our HSI Wellness Team followed up with letters to their districts this past fall.

This spring, SHD is collaborating with several community partners such as Dignity Health Sequoia Hospital, San Mateo County Health Department Tobacco Prevention Program, Breathe California, and the Stanford Tobacco Prevention Toolkit, in their education and prevention efforts. We want to inform the community about the real risk vaping poses to our youth. In this newsletter, we speak to experts in the field and our own school administrators, review articles, present facts, and more.

Unfortunately, unscrupulous vaping companies can easily tap into that vulnerability to ensure that they will have an entire generation of future customers. They do this through manipulation of We hope you will be our allies in protecting our our youth through social media advertising and youth. sleek product designs that mirror popular tech products.

Sincerely, This epidemic has garnered local, state and federal attention. Last month, Senator Jerry Hill introduced an assembly bill to limit the sale of Karen E. Li, MD e-cigarette flavors and to require an adult Director of School Health signature upon delivery for online device purchases.

Last summer, I sent out a letter (see page 5) informing high school parents of the dangers of 525 Veterans Blvd,

Redwood City, CA 94063

( 650) 421-2155

www.seqhd.org

INTERVIEWS

By Stacey Holmes

Bonnie Halpern-Felsher Mindy Shelton Bonnie Halper-Felsher, PhD., is a professor at Stanford University and the founder and executive director of the Tobacco Prevention Toolkit, a free online curriculum aimed at reducing and preventing youth tobacco use. Currently, she is promoting the Toolkit with the goal of reaching 500,000 youth by 2020.

Q: What are the main issues today?

A: The number one issue for youth and ATOD is vaping/e-cigarettes. Other significant issues are opioids, marijuana, and alcohol.

Q: On a scale of 1 to 10, how big of a problem is vaping?

A: An 8 out of 10. I have been asked daily, since last October, to talk about this subject.

Two areas of focus are detection and addiction. There are two groups of high schoolers— one group that knows about vaping and don’t use.

The other group knows about vaping and uses.

Bottom line: Your high schooler knows about what is going on.

Q: If you had one wish to help this problem, what would it be?

A: I wish for all parents to get educated. It is crucial to get educated and to have open dialogues with your children. Don’t be afraid to talk and stay current. Start the conversation about tobacco, including vaping, in 4th grade.

For parents who are interested in making an impact at a national level, please feel free to contact me at bonnieh@stanford.edu.

Mindy Shelton is the Vice-Principal at Central Middle School in San Carlos. She explains that many students don’t understand the harmful effects of vaping.

Ms. Shelton’s concerns include: 

Kids describe “no-nic* juice” as safe. They don’t realize there are still harmful chemicals inside.

*Disclaimer: No-nic juice may contain nicotine.

The manufacturing process is not yet federally regulated and we often do not know what contents are in e-cigarettes. 

Many students don’t think to ask what is in a vape before trying in and have no way of knowing how much nicotine, marijuana, or other substances are included.



It is hard for parents to keep up with what these vaping devices look like. They can resemble, among other things, a stylus or a flash drive.

After seeing examples of some common devices, one parent commented that they had seen something similar in their child’s room but didn’t realize what it was.

Ms. Shelton encourages parents to talk to their children and trust their gut. For example, if you see them having extra charging cords, that may be an indicator. If something feels out of place, follow up.