The “Talk Early, Talk Often” campaign is organized by the Sherburne County SUP Coalition to help educate and empower parents and caregivers to have ongoing conversations with the young people in their lives around drugs and alcohol. The coalition is currently working to create awareness of issues surrounding youth electronic cigarette use (also called vaping) and its adverse effects.

Vaping is the inhaling of an aerosol produced by an e-cigarette or other vape device. The most recently released 2017 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey shows that for the first time in 17 years, youth tobacco use is on this rise due to the use of e-cigarettes. It is important for adults to be equipped with the facts.

The evolution of these devices can be seen in the image when looking left to right. The earlier devices resemble cigarettes, while others look more like cigars, pens, and even USB flash drives. A newer device recently launched is a vape watch (located on the far right). This is a fully functioning watch that promotes vaping on the go. Become familiar with vape devices, what’s being vaped and the associated risks. Look for opportunities to discuss the risks of vaping with your child and set clear expectations.

Several community presentations will be held this fall to educate residents on recent vaping trends, and what you can do as a parent, grandparent, caregiver, and community member to prevent, intervene and help those in need. Several vaping devices will be available during the presentations to assist attendees in knowing what to look for.

Presentation information will be available on the SUP Coalition website (www.sherburnesupcoalition.org) and on their Facebook page (www.facebook.com/SCSUPC).

The Sherburne County Substance Use Prevention Coalition is a community-focused organization on a mission to prevent substance use among our youth by promoting safe and healthy choices.