Welcome to Tobacco-Free Gilpin
Tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death and disease in the United States and remains one of the top public health concerns in the state of Colorado. Each year, tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure take the lives of more than 4,300 Coloradans. The Tobacco-Free Gilpin health education program is designed to reduce the toll tobacco has on our communities. Our goal is to provide comprehensive information on the risks associated with tobacco use and secondhand smoke exposure, protect youth from tobacco initiation and increase successful tobacco cessation outcomes among residents in Gilpin County.
What’s in the Aerosol?
Electronic cigarettes, also known as electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), emit an aerosol (often mistakenly referred to as “vapor”) that is NOT harmless “water vapor” and is NOT as safe as clean air, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While e-cigarettes generally emit lower levels of dangerous toxins than combined cigarettes, they can contain heavy metals, ultrafine particulate, and cancer-causing agents like acrolein. They also contain propylene glycol or glycerin and flavorings.
Are They Safe?
From the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration): “As the safety and efficacy of e-cigarettes have not been fully studied, consumers of e-cigarette products currently have no way of knowing: whether e-cigarettes are safe for their intended use, how much nicotine or other potentially harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use, or if there are any benefits associated with using these products. Additionally, it is not known if e-cigarettes may lead young people to try other tobacco products, including conventional cigarettes, which are known to cause disease and lead to premature death.”
According to the CDC, currently the evidence is insufficient to conclude that ENDS are effective for smoking cessation and ENDS are not an FDA-approved quit aid. Learn more about FDA-approved cessation methods with this fact sheet.
National Data on E-Cigarette Use – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- In 2011, about 21 percent of adults who smoke traditional cigarettes had used e-cigarettes, up from about 10 percent in 2010.
- Overall, about six percent of all adults have tried e-cigarettes, with estimates nearly doubling from 2010.
- In 2012, 10% of high school students reported that they tried e-cigarettes, an increase of over 5% from 2011.
- E-cigarette use among U.S. middle school students also nearly doubled from 1.4% to 2.7% in 2012.
- Current e-cigarette use (use on at least 1 day in the past 30 days) among U.S. middle and high school students tripled from 2013 to 2014.
Additional Resources:
- General Information about E-Cigarettes / Vaporizing:
- Public Health Consequences of E-Cigarettes (Report from the National Academies of Science, Engineering, and Medicine)
- E-Cigarettes and Vaporizing: Glossary of Terms and Pictures (Jefferson County Public Health)
- E-Cigarettes and Vaporizing Fact Sheet (Jefferson County Public Health)
- E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults (2016 Surgeon General’s Report)
- Get the Facts on Vaping (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
- Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems Key Facts (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- CDC E-Cigarette Web Page (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- Information on E-Cigarettes (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)
- Statement on E-Cigarettes (American Lung Association)
- E-Cigarettes: A Scientific Review (University of California, San Francisco)
- E-Cigarette Use Triples Among Middle and High School Students in Just One Year (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
- E-Cigarette Fact Sheet for Youth (Jefferson County Public Health)
- Vaping Myths vs. Facts (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
- Vaping 101: What You Need to Know (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
Tips for Parents and Other “Askable” Adults:
- E-Cigarette Fact Sheet for Parents (Jefferson County Public Health)
- Tip Sheet: Talking to Teens about Vaping (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
- FAQs for Parents and Adults Who Work with Youth (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
Secondhand Vapor / Aerosol:
- Secondhand Aerosol Fact Sheet (Jefferson County Public Health)
Nicotine Poisoning:
- Nicotine Poisoning Fact Sheet (Jefferson County Public Health)
- Increase in E-Cigarette Poisonings Article (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
General Information about JUULs:
- JUUL Fact Sheet (Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment)
- JUUL Fact Sheet (Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids)
- JUUL Fact Sheet (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
For more information, please contact Katie Lazar at 303-275-7565 or klazar@jeffco.us.