Coalition has stemmed tobacco use

Editor:

The campaign against tobacco and nicotine use in Jefferson County has been led since 2002 by the Tobacco Prevention Center, a local nonprofit established under the inspiration and guidance of Dr. Jim Conroy and his wife, Susan, of Sigourney.

As the current coordinator of countywide activities, I offer here a few reflections as we prepare to pass the baton to a new service organization, Prelude Behavioral Services of Iowa City, on July 1.

Our mission has been to create healthy and vibrant communities in which young people reject tobacco and nicotine use, everyone is protected from secondhand smoke, and anyone can quit.

Our activities have been planned and overseen by the Jefferson County Tobacco-Free Coalition which meets regularly as part of Alcohol Consumption Task Force of Jefferson County. Members include social service providers, medical professionals, County Supervisors, and school officials.

Over the years we have worked with administrators, teachers and students at all area schools and have organized active student advocates against tobacco and nicotine use, and we have encouraged local lawmakers, employers, and landlords to adopt stringent tobacco- and nicotine-use policies with some success.

According to a 2019 CDC survey, 16.4% of adults in Iowa smoked cigarettes. In 2019, 22.7% of Iowa high school youth reported currently using any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes. In Jefferson County, 33% of 11th-graders surveyed reported e-cigarette use (vaping).

We must guard against students getting hooked on nicotine in this enticing way. While the health risks of vaping are not as acute as smoking cigarettes, long term use of e-cigarettes is filled with risks from the chemicals they contain and the negative effects of nicotine on the developing brain.

Help is available to users of tobacco and electronic cigarettes who want to quit. The Iowa Quitline at 1- (800) QUIT NOW offers free online help and telephone counseling that can make a big difference. A special service designed especially for young people is available at mylifemyquit.org. Interested users may text "Start My Quit" to 36072.

As we emerge from a year of guarding our health during the pandemic, may we all take the opportunity to lead healthier lives and put nicotine and tobacco use aside for good.

John Revolinski

Fairfield