News and Events
Dixie County Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) Chapter Celebrates Annual Not a Lab Rat Day!
October 19, 2022
The fifth annual Not A Lab Rat Day took place this year, Students Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) was ready to spread the word on the health effects of e-cigarettes, promote prevention (never starting) and encourage youth to quit vaping. SWAT, Florida's youth-led movement, empowers and encourages youth to protect themselves and future generations by taking a stand against the e-cigarette industry.
The Ruth Rains Middle School SWAT youth held a NALR Day event at the RRMS basketball game against Bronson Middle School (Levy County). The SWAT youth set up a booth highlighting Not A Lab Rat Day as a rallying to stand up and declare that they refuse to be Big Tobacco's "lab rats" as we continue to learn more about the long-term health effects of e-cigarettes.
Nine of the RRMS SWAT youth planned the event, set up a table with Electronic Vaping Products (EVP’s) information to inform youth and adults about the Vaping epidemic. Adults learned about the many different forms of vaping devices and some of the common names of these devices.
- Most e-cigarette devices have a battery, a heating element, and a place to hold a liquid. The devices heat a liquid – usually containing nicotine, flavorings, and other chemicals – and produce an aerosol(1). This aerosol is often called vapor. But this is not simply “water vapor,” as many young people believe.
- E-cigarettes come in many shapes and sizes. Some e-cigarettes are made to look like regular cigarettes. Some resemble pens. Larger devices such as tank systems, or “mods,” do not resemble other tobacco products.
- E-cigarettes are known by many different names. They are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “mods,” “vape pens,” “vapes,” and “tank systems.” They are also called by their brand names such as JUUL.
- Using an e-cigarette is often called “vaping”.
According to the Florida Youth Tobacco Survey 2022, of the youth that reported to vape, 60.3% vaped nicotine and 34.0% reported that they vaped Marijuana. The SWAT youth shared that nicotine use can lead to negative health consequences among individuals with mental and/or behavioral health conditions. All attendees viewed the table of information, they were offered to sign a commitment card to be tobacco and nicotine free.
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References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Quick Facts on the Risks of E-cigarettes for Kids, Teens, and Young Adults.” CDC Office on Smoking and Health, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. 3 Dec 2018. www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html (Accessed 3 February 2021)
RSVP at info@tfp-dixie.org 