2023 MN Youth Tobacco Survey

Nicotine Dependence Intensifies

New data from the 2023 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey (MYTS) reveal that signs of nicotine dependence have intensified among those who use commercial tobacco products - 79.6% of students who used an e-cigarette in the past 30 days reported signs of dependence. A strong relationship exists between adolescent exposure to nicotine and depression, anxiety, and stress. Teens with mental health disorders are more likely to initiate commercial tobacco use and are at increased risk for long-term nicotine dependence than teens without these disorders. Centennial School District within Anoka County, in partnership with the American Lung Association and Anoka County SHIP, have been taking steps towards reducing this disparity among youth by providing free cessation resources to students and educating parents about the harms of e-cigarette use. 

Youth Tobacco Survey shows decline in overall use

Among students who took the survey and used any commercial tobacco, including electronic cigarettes, 13.9% of high school and 3.7% of middle school students reported use in the past 30 days. This was a statistically significant decline from 20.5% (high school) and 4.1% (middle school) in 2017. An estimated 48,722 students in grades 6 through 12 used a commercial tobacco product in the past 30 days, 16,328 fewer than in 2020.

Want to know more about the survey? Read the full press release from the Minnesota Department of Health or the summary of the survey itself.

Tobacco & vapes - what's left behind?

Facts about thirdhand smoke revealed

Thirdhand smoke is the chemical residue from tobacco smoke. This residue is toxic to humans. It can linger for years in dust and on household surfaces. It can also become embedded in carpets, furniture, clothes, and building materials. It is difficult and expensive to remove.

There's a common misconception that vaping does not leave behind residue. Thirdhandsmoke.org reports that while Electronic cigarettes (also called vapes) do not burn tobacco, they heat a fluid that creates a vapor made up of tiny droplets called aerosols.  Those aerosols move through the air, can spread to other rooms, and collect in dust. They also like to stick to surfaces and household objects, exposing people to the chemicals. They can interact with other chemicals in the air to form new cancer-causing substances and can also transfer from room to room, such as from a vape shop into a neighboring business. 

Children, who are most vulnerable to toxic chemicals, can inhale secondhand vaping aerosols and pick up thirdhand residue on their hands. To prevent the build-up of thirdhand residue in your home and car, don't allow anyone to vape in those spaces.

Interview with our AmeriCorps Member, Chris McCook

Q: It's been great to have you with us, Chris! Can you tell us about your time as AmeriCorps Member in the Health Promotion and Planning (HP&P) SHIP Team?  A: My time with HP&P/SHIP has been a blast! It was great to learn about how each SHIP context area interacts with the broader community and how they can help their partners. I’ve also really enjoyed how welcoming everyone is within the department, which really made for a fantastic learning experience. This has allowed me to get a better understanding of how local public health works, and this will provide great context for my master’s program in Public Health Administration and Policy in the fall.