Arkansas Teen Concerned about Vaping

Guest Blogger:  Sarah Cate Lay is from North Little Rock, Arkansas

I am only a sophomore in high school, but I hear stories everyday about young people who vape. The worst part is, they typically don’t realize the health impacts or that it can become an addiction so quickly.

That's why I'm glad the American Heart Association is working to raise the minimum legal sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes to 21. 

Vapes and e-cigarettes are dangerous and should not be sold to teens. If the legal age to buy these products were 21 and if there were stricter laws on the stores that could sell these products, it would be more difficult for teens to buy them.

Evidence shows the younger people are when they smoke their first cigarette, the more likely they will be a smoker for life. The tobacco industry has historically zeroed in on teens by marketing flavored cigarettes and placing advertisements at low heights so we are sure to see them. The industry also has recently begun heavily marketing e-cigarettes to young people. From 2011 to 2014, the percentage of 12th-grade students who had ever used an e-cigarette increased from 4.7 to 17.2 percent. For the first time, more teenagers are using e-cigarettes than actual cigarettes. 

Have you seen how smoking e-cigarettes impacts health? 

If so, comment below and help change the legal sale age for tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21! Maybe you're a teen who is also concerned about their friends who vape. Or, maybe you're a parent, an educator, or a medical professional who sees how smoking impacts teens' health. It will take all of our stories, and us coming together in one voice, to make a difference in Arkansas. 

Take Action Now.

Lastly, let's do something about this problem. Join me and use your voice to let lawmakers know we want to raise the minimum legal sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and vapes to 21. Click here to take action now!