March 29, 2017
According to the U.S. Surgeon General’s report on e-cigarettes and young people, “No matter how it’s delivered, nicotine is harmful for youth and young adults.” E-cigarettes are devices that heat a liquid, usually containing nicotine, flavoring and other additives, into an aerosol that the user inhales.
E-cigarettes are considered among tobacco products because most contain nicotine, which comes from tobacco and are addictive. Besides nicotine, e-cigarettes can contain other harmful ingredients. A recent CDC report indicates that e-cigarette use has risen dramatically in the last five years, with 1 in 6 high school students using e-cigarettes in the past month.
NYS PTA supports the following electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) initiatives proposed in the Executive Budget:
Impose a tax rate of $0.10 per milliliter. According to the Roswell Park Cancer Institute, “A modest increase in e-cigarette prices should serve to help deter young people from using e-cigarettes while not posing a significant impediment for adult cigarette smokers who are looking to switch completely to e-cigarettes as a step toward going tobacco- and e-cigarette-free.”
Expand the definition of tobacco products to include vapor products used in electronic delivery systems such as e-cigarettes, hookah pens, and vape pens in the Clean Indoor Air Act. According to a U.S. Surgeon General’s report, “The aerosol from e-cigarettes is not harmless. It can contain harmful and potentially harmful chemicals, including nicotine; ultrafine particles that can be inhaled deep into the lungs; flavoring such diacetyl, a chemical linked to a serious lung disease; volatile organic compounds such as benzene, which is found in car exhaust; and heavy metals, such as nickel, tin and lead. Scientists are still working to understand more fully the health effects and harmful doses of e-cigarette contents when they are heated and turned into an aerosol, both for active users who inhale from a device and for those who are exposed to the aerosol secondhand. Another risk to consider involves defective e-cigarette batteries that have been known to cause fires and explosions, some of which have resulted in serious injuries. Most of the explosions happened when the e-cigarette batteries were being charged.”
Fully prohibit the advertising, marketing and sale of e-cigarettes and other ENDS to youth. E-cigarettes and other ENDS are available in more than 7,000 fruit/candy flavors and advertised using cartoons and celebrities, which are appealing to youth. While the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has taken the first step in establishing oversight of e-cigarettes and other ENDS, there are no federal restrictions preventing the sale and advertising of e-cigarettes and other ENDS to minors. Much more needs to be done.
Click Here to Take Action: Restrict and Ban Marketing of ECigarettes & ENDS to Children
March 15, 2017
As one of the country’s most popular holidays, St. Patrick’s Day is an opportunity for everyone to celebrate the roots of 34.2 million Americans with Irish ancestry. Tragically, March 17 has become one of the nation’s deadliest holidays.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), during the 2014 St. Patrick’s Day holiday period (6 p.m. March 16 to 5:59 a.m. March 18), more than a quarter (28%) of all motor vehicle crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. The early hours of March 18 were especially deadly: between midnight and 5:59 a.m., nearly half of all crash fatalities involved drunk drivers. In fact, from 2010 to 2014, almost three-fourths of the drunk-driving fatalities during this holiday period involved drivers who had blood alcohol contents (BACs) well above the .08 limit, with 266 drunk-driving fatalities total.
Pedestrians walking while intoxicated are also at risk as lack of attention increases the risk of getting hit by a vehicle. In 2014, 35 percent of the pedestrians killed in crashes had a blood alcohol content of .08 or higher.
There is some good news, however. The number of fatalities over this holiday period decreased nationally from 32 in 2013 to 29 in 2014. Likewise, the number of fatalities involving drunk drivers declined from more than one-third to one-fourth.
“We are greatly encouraged by the downward trend in fatalities,” said Irvington Chief of Police Mike Cerone. “However, we still want to encourage everyone to make a plan before heading out to the festivities. Understand the dangers of drinking and driving. Buzzed or drunk, you should not drive. Designate a sober driver before you and your friends go out to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Do not wait until you’ve already been drinking to find a sober driver. Remember: Buzzed Driving is Drunk Driving. Even one drink is dangerous if you are behind the wheel of a car.”
Let’s make 2017 safer. Use this party-planning checklist to stay safe this St. Patrick’s Day.
- PARTY PREPARATION: Designate a sober, reliable driver to get you home safely. Find the name of a taxi company (or two), and keep their numbers in your phone, or download the NHTSA SaferRide app, available for Android and Apple.
- ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Before you take your first sip of green beer, leave your keys at home or give them to a friend. Ensure your designated driver has committed to a sober evening. If you’re the designated driver, do not drink. Your friends are relying on you, as are the people with whom you share the road. Enjoy non-alcoholic beverages and tweet your VIP (very important partygoer) status online using the hashtag #designateddriver.
- EVERY DAY: First, commit to driving sober today, St. Patrick’s Day, and every day. Second, always keep the number of a taxi company in your phone or in your wallet so you have a backup plan if you find yourself in need of a sober driver. Last, be sure to download NHTSA’s SaferRide app. Using your location, the app can find a taxi nearby, as well as help you contact a friend from your selected list of contacts. If you’re impaired, don’t let pride get in the way of calling a sober friend or family member to get you home safely. Help spread the word about the dangers of drunk driving, and the resources available to keep the streets safe.
Fact: In 2014, on average, one person was killed every 53 minutes in a drunk-driving crash in the United States. That totaled 9,967 drunk-driving fatalities that year. Too many people are not getting the message. Drunk driving is deadly and illegal. In fact, even if you have a BAC under .08, you could still be arrested and convicted of drunk driving.
To drink and drive is a crime —you put yourself and others at risk. The consequences are often fatal. If you see a drunk driver on the road, contact local police when it is safe to do so. You could save a life.
For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov or www.iask-cab.org.
March 9, 2017
In February, the High School Positive Impact Club planned awareness activities related to “Marijuana Awareness Month”. At the beginning of February, there was a window display for “Marijuana Awareness Month” which included facts about marijuana and its impact on the teenage brain. The Positive Impact Club students hosted a marijuana “foggles” demonstration and information table for the “Marijuana Awareness Month”. The students guided their peers through a written maze activity to demonstrate executive functioning impairment as a result of marijuana use. The table also provided information about the risks associated with marijuana use, and National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) “Marijuana Facts for Teens” pamphlets were made available to students both at the table and in the high school main office.
March 9, 2017
As a parent, you know the importance of your teen’s social life and that parties are a way to socialize and relax. But an unsupervised or poorly planned party can result in unwanted or even tragic consequences. However, parental responsibility is the key to a fun and safe party.
The American Academy of Pediatrics shares some important information about teen parties. Learn more.
March 1, 2017
Is drinking worse than smoking weed?
Some teens may argue that weed is safer than alcohol. Research shows that teens typically try both, often at the same time — a dangerous combination. Tell your teen that you don’t want her to be doing anything that can harm her — whether that’s smoking pot, cigarettes, drinking or any other reckless behavior. Learn more.