Editor, Times-Union:
Recent findings from the Indiana Youth Tobacco Survey (YTS) revealed that more than 1 in 10 high school students reported current use of any tobacco product, where e-cigarettes were the most common tobacco product used.
As our kids return to school, it becomes critical for us to create a safe and supportive environment that encourages healthy habits and discourages vaping and smoking. Even if you and the rest of your family do not smoke, it is best to always be cautious of the different environments your child is exposed to throughout the day. Do their friends’ parents smoke inside the house? Do they play sports in an area that isn’t smoke-free? Venues that you assume are smoke-free, such as a public park, may still allow designated smoking areas.
Engaging in open and honest conversations with our children about the dangers of vaping and secondhand smoke can eliminate a lot of these unknowns. It is important to encourage your child to ask others not to smoke/vape in front of them. Installing this mentality in your children at a young age will also help prevent them from ever starting to smoke.
As we gear up for another school year, let us unite as a community to protect our children's health and well-being. Let us be proactive in addressing the youth vaping epidemic, emphasizing prevention, education, and supportive initiatives. Together, we can create a safer and healthier environment for our youth to thrive, free from the clutches of this harmful trend.
If you’re a parent and you smoke, you can protect your family from secondhand smoke by implementing no-smoking rules in your own house or car and keep the smoke outside. If you’re ready to quit smoking and live a healthier life, you can call for free help at 1-800-Quit-Now or visit QuitNowIndiana.com
Sincerely,
Nathan Prescott
physical education, Claypool Elementary School
via email