THE FRED B. AND RUTH B. ZIEGLER FOUNDATION AND THE ZIEGLER ART MUSEUM LOCATED IN JENNINGS CITY HALL.

HELLO AND WELCOME TO LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE.

I'M BETH COURTNEY, PRESIDENT OF LPB.

JOINING ME FOR MY DISCUSSION TONIGHT IS NEWS REPORTER ANDRE MORROW.

ANDRE, GLAD YOU'RE HOSTING TONIGHT.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THAT.

IT'S A NEW YEAR AND TIME FOR NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS SO MAYBE QUITTING SMOKING IS HIGH ON YOUR LIST.

YOU MAY HAVE CONSIDERED WEANING OFF THE HABIT BY USING AN E-CIGARETTE.

THESE HAND HELD DEVICE DEVICES S SLOWLY RISEN IN POPULARITY OVER THE LAST TEN YEAR BUT HAS SURGED IN TEENAGERS AND MINORS OVER THE LAST THREE.

VAPEING BY LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS HAS INCREASED BY 48 PERCENT AND AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOLERS OVER 65 PERCENT.

SINCE AUGUST OVER 2600 PEOPLE NATIONWIDE HAVE BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH LUNG ILLNESSES RELATED TO VAPING AND 60 HAVE DIED.

TWO FROM LOUISIANA.

IN RESPONSE TO THE AGE TO PURCHASE PRODUCTS WILL SOON BE 21 AND ALL BUT TWO FLAVORS BUT NICOTINE WILL BE BANNED.

BUT IS THE FLAVORING ATRACKING YOUNGER USERS TO VAPING OR NICOTINE: TONIGHT WE BRING TOGETHER EXPERTS AND USERS TO EXPLORE VAPING IN LOUISIANA.

SIX YEARS AGO RONNIE QUIT SMOKING FROM TRADITIONAL CIGARETTES AND SANDWICHED TO THE ELECTRONIC KIND.

HE SAYS THE BENEFITS HAVE BEEN MANY.

I HAD DEVELOPED A WHEEZE OVER THE YEARS AGO AND YEAH I FEEL LIKE I'M LIVING A MUCH HEALTHIER LIFESTYLE.

HE START SMOKING TOBACCO AT THE AGE OF 14 AND DIDN'T STOP UNTIL SIX YEARS LATER.

SINCE MOVING TO VAPING PRODUCTS HE SAYS HE NO LONGER FEELS SIX, DOESN'T FEEL LIKE SMOKE AND ISN'T INGESTING AS MANY CHEMICALS.

ALL VAPING IS YOU HAVE A EATING ELEMENT AND YOUR WICKING ELEMENT.

YOUR WICKING ELEMENT IS GOING TO SATURATE THAT LIQUID AND AS YOU PRESS THE BUS TON YOU'RE SEND POWER TO THAT'LLING ELEMENT AND IT HEATS UP THE LIQUID AND TURNS IT INTO A VAPOR.

HE INITIALLY USED PREPACKAGED FLAVORED NICOTINE PODS BUT SOON MOVES TO FLAVORS.

TOBACCO FLAVOR IS THEIR LEAST COMMON CHOICE.

SO THAT IS ONLY TWO PERCENT OF OUR CUSTOMER BASE THAT SMOKES TOBACCO FLAVORS.

SO THAT LEAVES 98 PERCENT OF OUR CUSTOMER BASE, ME INCLUDED THAT USE FRUITY DESSERTY FLAVORS.

IN LOUISIANA VAPING PRODUCTS ARE ONLY SUPPOSED TO BE SOLD TO ADULTS AGED SCENE AND UP.

THE FDA RECENTLY RAISED THE NATIONAL AGE TO 21, WHICH WILL TAKE EFFECT IN SEPTEMBER.

LIKE CUSTOMIZED FLAVORED CARTRIDGES MANUFACTURED AT BIG CHIEF VAPOR PREPACKED FLAVOR PODS CONTAIN MUCH MORE NICOTINE.

THESE ARE THE MOST POPULAR TYPE AMONG YOUNGER VAPORS.

THEY'RE GETTING THEIR HANDS ON PRODUCTS LIKE JUUL AND JUUL HAS WAY MORE NICOTINE THAN ANYBODY SHOULD BE INTAKING UNLESS YOU'RE A TWO PACK A DAY SMOKER AND YOU'RE ALREADY USED TO INTAKING THAT MUCH NICOTINE.

LOUISIANA HIGH SCHOOL BATHROOMS ARE THE NEW VAPE SHOP.

TONYA MOORE IS DIRECTOR TO THE LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREELYING.

AT THE END OF 2019 MOORE'S GROUP AND THE STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH RELEASED A SPECIAL REPORT ON YOUTH AND E-CIGARETTE USE.

IN HIGH SCHOOL WE SAW NUMBERS NEARLY TRIPLE SINCE 2015 AND WE SAW NUMBERS DOUBLE AMONG MIDDLE SCHOOL.

THE YOUTH SURVEY ALSO FOUND THAT 40 PERCENT OF LOUISIANA STUDENTS VAPED DAILY.

BECAUSE OF THE HIGH LEVELS OF NICOTINE, THEIR BODIES AND BRAINS ARE BECOMING ADDICTED TO THE PRODUCT ITSELF.

MOORE SAYS YOUTHS ARE ATTRACTED TO VAPING DICES LIKE THE JUUL BECAUSE OF ITS SLEEK EASILY CONCEALED DESIGN, PLUS THE FLAVOR OPTIONS.

THE FLAVORS HAVE A DIG ATTRACTION BECAUSE THEY CONTAIN NICOTINE SALTS AND THOSE NICOTINE SALTS ARE WHAT DETERMINE HOW BIG THE PLUME OF SMOKE WILL BE.

THEY'RE ALSO ATTRACTIVE AND SWEET.

ALL FLAVORED PODS EXCEPT FOR MENTHOL AND TOBACCO WERE RECENTLY BANNED.

SMOKING IS USUALLY FROWNED UPON BUT VAPING IS SOCIALLY ENCOURAGING.

A SENIOR AT LSU SAYS VAPING IS PREVALENT AT LSU.

A PUGH STUDY NOTES THE BIGGEST UPTICK IN VAPING IN ONE YEAR WAS AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS.

NICOTINE VAPING IN 2018 TRIPLED.

YOU CAN VAPE THEM PRETTY MUCH EVERYWHERE BECAUSE AGAINst THERE'S NO SMELL.

THERE'S NOT A LOT OF SMOKE LIKE THERE WOULD BE FROM NORMAL MARIJUANA, AND A LOT OF TIME THEY'RE MORE POE TENT.

EVEN THOUGH RECREATIONAL MARIJUANA USE IS ILLEGAL IN LOUISIANA BROWN SAYS IT'S FAIRLY EASY TO PURCHASE THC PODS ONLINE.

THE DANGER SHE DISCOVERED WHEN REPORTING ON THE LUNG JEWISHS IS BOOTLEG THC CARTRIDGES.

SO THE CDC HAS IDENTIFIED ASSIGNMENT E ACETATE AS A CHEMICAL COMPONENT THAT IS TOXIC TO THE LUNGS AND IS USES AS A THICKENING AGENT IN THESE MOSTLY COUNTERFEIT THC CARTRIDGES.

SINCE SEPTEMBER 60 PEOPLE HAVE DIED DUE TO VAPING RELATED LUNG ILLNESSES, INCLUDING TWO IN LOUISIANA.

EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO SMOKE THERE IS STILL HARM.

A PEDIATRICIAN IN THE CAPITOL REGIONAL DIRECTOR FOR THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

SHE SAYS COUNTERFEIT OR NOT ALL VAPING PODS CONTAIN TOXINS.

WE'RE NOT MADE TO BREATHE AND INHALE TOXIC SUBSTANCES AND WE'RE PUTTING A DIRECT IMPACT INTO OUR LUNGS.

THE DAMAGE IS MOST SIGNIFICANT IN YOUNG PEOPLE, WHOSE NEUROLOGICAL SYSTEMS ARE STANDSTILL DEVELOPING.

IT CAN HAVE ADVERSE AFFECTS ON THEIR CARDIOVASCULAR AND RESPIRATORY SYSTEMS.

MOORE FOUND THAT NEARLY 20 PERCENT OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS AND 30 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOLERS DON'T THINK VAPING IS HARMFUL.

CURRENTLY THE HEALTH RISKS CAN VARY FROM PRODUCT TO PRODUCT.

WE DON'T YET HAVE A STANDARD FDA REGULATED PROCESS TO DETERMINE WHO IS OR WHO IS NOT SAFE OR WHAT CAN OR CANNOT BE CONSISTENTLY CONTAINED OR MANDATED EXCLUSION FROM THESE PRODUCTS.

SHE OVERSEES WHAT GOES INTO HIS CUSTOMIZED VAPING PRODUCTS.

HERE AT BIG CHIEF VAPOR PRODUCTS IT IS OUR JOB TO TRANSITION PEOPLE AWAY FROM COMBUSTIBLE TOBACCO CIGARETTES.

WE HAVE SMOKERS WALKING IN THE DOOR, WE HAVE VAPORS WALKING OUT THE DOOR AND WE ARE HERE TO HELP WITH ANYTHING THEY NEED.

SHARING SOME OF THEIR OWN SOLUTIONS IS OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE.

IT INCLUDES REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE VAPING INDUSTRY, TOBACCO FREE LIVING, YOUNG AMERICANS FOR FREEDOM AND ALSO EDUCATORS FROM ASCENSION AND EAST BATON ROUGE PARISHES.

WE HAVE HIGH SCHOOL MEMBERS FROM THE LEGISLATIVE YOUTH VOYEUR COUNT SINGLE FROM COFFIN TON AND NEW ORLEANS.

A RECENT GALLOP POLL WAS TAKEN ON VAPING HABITS AMONG ADULTS.

AMONG THE FINDINGS 20 PERCENT OF AMERICANS AGES 18 TO 29 SAID THEY VAPE COMPARED TO EIGHT PERCENT OF THOSE AGE 30 TO 64.

JUST 16 PERCENT OF YOUNG ADULTS SAID THEY SMOKED A CIGARETTE IN THE PREVIOUS WEEK COMPARED TO 26 PERCENT OF 50 TO 64-YEAR-OLDS.

THE VAPE SURVEY FOUND THAT 32 PERCENT OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS CURRENTLY USED VAPING PRODUCTS AND 15 PERCENT OF MIDDLE SCHOOLERS ARE CURRENT USERS.

AND WHEN IT COMES TO THE HEALTH RISKS JUST 29 PERCENT OF HIGH-SCHOOLERS AND 19 AND A HALF PERCENT OF MOORERS BELIEVE E-CIGARETTES ARE LESS HARMFUL THAN OTHER TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

SO LET'S START WITH OUR OWN SURVEY.

TELL ME YOUR FULL NAME, WHO YOU REPRESENT AND ALSO YOUR THOUGHTS ON VAPING.

HELLO, MY NAME IS MARIA MARSH.

I GO TO LSU AND I WRITE FOR THE MAP SHIP WRITING SERVICE.

I WROTEN A ARTICLE A FEW MONTHS AGO ABOUT VAPING AND HOW COLLEGE STUDENTS HAVE KIND OF BEEN TAKING TO IT AND HAVE THEN ALSO THE HARMFUL EFFECTS.

MY PERSONAL OPINION, I FEEL LIKE IS OF LITTLE LESS PERTINENT BUT THE PEOPLE THAT I DID TALK TO IN WRITING IT, EVEN THE PEOPLE THAT SAID THEY CONTINUE TO VAPE AFTER KNOWING ALL OF THE NEW INFORMATION COMING OUT ABOUT IT OPENLY ADMITTED THEY BELIEVE IT IS EXTREMELY HARMFUL AND THEY FELT THE SIDE EFFECTS OVEN THOUGH THEY STILL DID IT AND THEY WERE OKAY WITH THAT.

OKAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

LET'S CHECK IN WITH SOMEBODY FROM THE VAPING INDUSTRY.

TIM, I'LL ASK YOU A QUESTION AND TOIVE YOU FULL NAME.

MY NAME IS TIM, I'M FROM LAFAYETTE.

I'M AN EX-SMOKER.

I QUIT SMOKING 30 YEARS WITH VAPING.

I DID OPEN A VAPOR STORE FOR TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION.

AT MY AGE, I WAS KIND OF A LITTLE OLDER THAN THE NORMAL VAPING CROWD BUT I FELT THERE WAS FULL BENEFITS FOR ADULTS THAT WERE ADDICTED TO SMOKING CIGARETTES.

I FEEL PERSONALLY MY HEALTH HAS DRAMATICALLY CHANGED SINCE VAPING.

I QUILT SMOKING FOUR YEARS AGO.

I WAS A TWO PACK A DAY SMOKER AND SINCE I VAPID MY HEALTH HAS IMPROVED.

MY BLOOD PRESSURE IS NORMAL.

I DON'T TAKE BLOOD PRESSURE MEDICINES A LITTLE MORE.

MY KIDS ENJOY ME MORE BECAUSE I CAN GOO GO OUTSIDE AND DO THINGS WITH THEM A LOT MORE.

KIM, LET ME GO TO YOU.

GIVE US YOUR FULL NAME.

MY NAME IS KENYATA ROYAL.

MY THOUGHTS BECAUSE I WORK WITH YOUTH ARE ABOUT THEM, AND THIS PRODUCT WAS SUPPOSED TO COME OUT AND BE FOR THOSE WHO WERE SMOKERS TO TRANSITION TO SOMETHING THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE LESS HARMFUL, EVEN THOUGH WE SEE THE REPORTS ON THE HARM.

MY BIGGEST ISSUE IS THAT OUR YOUTH ARE GETTING THEIR HANDS ON IT AND IT'S IMPACTING THEIR HEALTH AND IT'S IMPACTING THEIR FUTURE, BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM IN 30, 40 YEARS TO BE EQUIVALENT TO WHAT WE HAVE WITH THE CIGARETTE SMOKERS THAT WE HAVE TODAY.

WE WANT THEM TO HAVE HEALTHIER LEAVES AND BETTER OUTCOMES OF LIVES AND THAT MEANS NOT INTRODUCING THIS PRODUCT TO THEMSELVES BUT IT IS BEING TOUTED AS VERY COOL AND SOMETHING TO DO SO THEY ARE VERY ATTRACTED TO IT AND IT HAS TO DO WITH THE SMELL OR FLAVORS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S CHECK IN WITH SOME OF THE JUDGER GROUP.

CARLO.

MY NAME IS CARTER KNEW GENTLE AND I'M REPRESENTING THE LOUISIANA LEGISLATIVE YOUTH ADVISORY COUNCIL HERE TODAY.

SO WHEN I THINK ABOUT VAPING I DO BELIEVE THERE ARE SIGNIFICANT HEALTH BENEFITS TO CURRENT SMOKERS TO CUT BACK ON HARMFUL TAX TOXINS, HOWEVER FOR THE YOUNGER AUDIENCE, FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LIKE ME WHO ARE NOT CURRENT CIGARETTE SMOKERS I BELIEVE THAT VAPING IS A BRIDGE INTO THE NICOTINE WORLD THAT WILL CREATE A GENERATION OF SMOKERS IN THE FUTURE.

ONE OF THE MAIN POINTS OF COHN TENSION IS DONALD TRUMP'S RECENT RAISING OF THE TOBACCO PURCHASE TO AGE 21, I DO BELIEVE THIS IS A HEAVY BENEFIT TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS LIKE ME BECAUSE MANY HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS ARE 18 AND HAVING 118-YEAR-OLD WITHIN A HIGH SCHOOL INCREASES ACCESSIBILITY TO VAPE PRODUCTS FOR EVERYONE WITHIN THAT SCHOOL.

SO BY RAISING THE TOBACCO PURCHASE AGE TO 21 WE'RE DECREASING THE ACCESSIBILITY FOR SEAING VAPING PRODUCTS AND NEW CIGARETTE USERS IN THE FUTURE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LET'S CHECK IN WITH YOU.

FULL NAME AND WHO YOU REPRESENT.

HI, I AM A SHOP OWNER AND ALSO I USE NICOTINE VAPING PRODUCTS TO STOP SMOKING NINE YEARS AGO.

ME AND MY HUSBAND DECIDED TO OPEN UP TO A STORE TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY AND WITH A WE LIKE TO FOCUS ON IS MORE TO EDUCATE OUR CONSUMERS SO THEY KNOW WHAT THEY'RE GETTING INTO.

AND WHEN WE HAVE YOUNGER ADULTS COME IN WE LIKE THE EDUCATE THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SALT NICOTINE AND ALSO YOUR REGULAR E LIQUID SO THEY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY'RE PUTTING INTO THEIR BODY.

HELLO, MY NAME IS PETE.

AN IN AN ALCOHOL VIOLATION AND DRUG PREVENTION PROGRAM.

I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A DISCONNECT BETWEEN WHAT IT WAS ORIGINALLY MEANT TO DO AND WHAT IT IS DOING.

ISM LIKE FOR SMOKERS THAT WERE WANTING TO GET OFF OF CIGARETTES OR TRANSITION OR SMOOTH TRANSITION, INSTEAD IT'S BECOME FADDISH, AND OF COURSE IT'S PERSONAL FOR ME BECAUSE I WORK WITH YOUTH BUT I ALSO HAVE A TEENAGER, WELL, TWO TEENAGERS AND BOTH OF THOSE ARE TREMENDOUSLY EXPOSED IN THE SCHOOLS AND IT IS BECAUSE OF STYLE OF THE PARTICULAR PEN, OR THE DEVICE AND BECAUSE YOU CAN WALLPAPER IT, YOU CAN WRAP IT.

IT'S AS POPULAR AS HAVING A PHONE.

IT'S LIKE A STATUS SYMBOL.

SO THERE'S IMMENSE PEER PRESSURE TO OWN ONE EVEN IF YOU DON'T USE ONE.

SO THAT'S PEER PRESSURE EVEN IF IT WASN'T INTENDED.

HUNTER LET'S GO TO YOU NOW.

MY NAME IS HUMMER AND I'M HERE WITH THE LOUISIANA VAPING ASSOCIATION, AND AS FAR AS MY TAKE ON VAPING, I DON'T SEE IT PERSONALLY BEING HARMFUL TO SOMEONE WITH THE STATISTICAL DATA THAT THEY HAVE ESTABLISHED IN ORE COUNTRIES AND ECONOMIES AGAINST VAPING VERSUS TRADITIONAL TOBACCO SMOKING.

I FEEL AS THERE'S KIND OF A BLOCKED GATE WITHIN THE UNITED STATES OF MAKING THE TRANSITION OF LETTING SOMEONE USE THAT AS A HARM REDUCTION TOOL, BECAUSE IT'S NOT AS LINKED TO TAXABLE INCOME AS TRADITIONAL TOBACCO PRODUCTS.

THAT'S KIND OF BEEN A VERY BIG AIMING POINT ALMOST AS FAR AS REGULATIONS GO TOWARDS IT.

WE DO SUPPORT THE T 21, I FIRMLY AGREE WITH SOME OF THE STATEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE THAT DOES LIMIT THE ACCESSIBILITY TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, BUT AT THE SAME TIME AS YOU LOOK AT IT AS DO THOSE 18-YEAR-OLD STUDENTS HAVE 21-YEAR-OLD FRIENDS THAT WERE PREVIOUSLY IN HIGH SCHOOL WITH THEM.

SO I THINK THAT IT WOULD BE A GREAT THING, AND IT WILL LIMIT IT TREMENDOUSLY AND THAT WILL HELP THE YOUTH AS FAR AS THAT IS CONCERNED.

BUT FROM AGAIN MY PERSONAL OPINION I SEE IT AS BEING A GREAT HARM REDUCTION TOOL FOR ADULTS, NOT THE YOUTH.

HUNTER THANK YOU FOR THAT.

MIA LET'S CHECK IN WITH YOU.

MY NAME A MIA ED WITHDRAWERS AND I'M THE DIRECTOR OR SECONDARY SCHOOLS.

MY TAKE ON VAPING THE HARM REDUCTION TOOL IS PROBABLY THE INITIATED AND THE PURPOSE THAT IT CAME ABOUT FOR.

WHAT HAS HAPPENED THOUGH IS THAT INDUSTRY HAS THEN BEGUN TO MARKET IT TO THE YOUNGER GENERATION, AND WE ARE SEEING IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS JUST STUDENTS THAT ARE VERY ADDICTED TO THE NICOTINE BECAUSE THE NICOTINE CONTENT IS SO HIGH AND THEY ARE NOT MATURE ENOUGH TO HANDLE THE DECISIONS THAT NEED TO BE MADE TO BE ABLE THE UTILIZE THIS IN A MORE HEALTHY MANNER.

I DO AGREE WITH YOUR STATEMENT THAT WAS MADE EARLIER ABOUT RAISING THE AGE TO 21.

HOWEVER, ALCOHOL -- THE AGE FOR ALCOHOL PURCHASE IS 21 AS WELL AND THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT WE FIGHT IN OUR HIGH SCHOOLS TODAY.

SO WHEN IT'S SOMETHING THAT KIDS WANT TO DO THEY'RE GOT FIND A WAY TO DO IT.

WILL IT CURTAIL IT SOME?

I THINK SO, BUT I DON'T THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE THE ANSWER TO OUR PROBLEM.

SO I DO THINK WE HAVE AN EPIDEMIC ON OUR HANDS, JUST LIKE SMOKING PROBABLY WAS IN THE 50S AND 60S AND WE HAVE TO FIND A WAY TO COMBAT WHAT'S HAPPENING TO OUR YOUTH.

MIA, THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MY NAME IS GRACE, I'M A SENIOR AT LSU AND FOR MY SENIOR CAPSTONE PROJECT, THIS WAS OUR FINAL PROJECT, WITH CHOSE TO TACKLE THE ISSUE OF VAPING AND IT WAS A GROUP OF US.

I'VE NOT EVER USED VAPE BUT SOME OF US IN OUR GROUP HAD AND WE FELT IT WAS A BIG PROBLEM ON OUR CAMPUS SO OUR TAKE WAS THAT TO CURTAIL SOME OF THE PROBLEMS THAT WE WERE SEEING, WE WERE GOING TO LOBBY THE STATE LEGISLATURE TO RAISE THE AGE OF TOBACCO TO 21, BUT LUCKILY QUESTION DON'T HAVE TO DO THAT ANYMORE AND I DO THINK THAT'S GOING TO BE A BIG FACTOR.

IT WON'T OBVIOUSLY SOLVE ALL OF THE PROBLEM OF VAPING.

BUT I DO THINK IT WILL HELP.

IF IT MEANS THAT MY LITTLE BROTHER WHO JUST TURNED 17 HAS THE JUMP THROUGH A FEW MORE HOOPS TO GET HIS HANDS ON A VAPE, I'M GLAD IT'S IN PLACE AND I'M FLASH FLOOD HE HAS TO WORK A LITTLE HARDER TO GET IT.

NICHOLAS, LET'S CHECK IN WITH YOU.

MY NAME IS NICHOLAS AND I'M FOR YOUNG AMERICANS FOR FREEDOM, WHICH IS A NONPROFIT THAT WORKS TO SUPPORT INDIVIDUAL FREEDOMS AND I BELIEVE THAT VAPING DOES HAVE ITS BENEFITS FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN HABITUAL SMOKERS AND IT IS A PROVEN TOOL THAT CAN HELP THEM WEAN THEMSELVES OFF THAT ADDICTION.

I DO UNDERSTAND THE CONCERNS OTHER SPEAKERS HAVE SPOKEN ON ABOUT YOUNGER GENERATIONS GETTING HOOKED BUT I THINK PEOPLE SHOULD BE ABLE TO MAKE THAT DECISION.

THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE NOW FOR THIS PORTION OF OUR SHOW, BUT WHEN WE RETURN WE'RE GOING TO BE JOINED BY A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO FURTHER DISCUSS VAPING IN LOUISIANA WELCOME BAA TO LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE.

TONIGHT WE ARE EXPLORING VAPING IN LOUISIANA AND JOINING US NOW IS OUR PANEL.

WE HAVE THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY TORT DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

HE'S THE@PRIMARY CARE INTERNIST, HERE'S FOCUSED ON IMPROVING INDIVIDUAL AND COMMUNITY HEALTH.

HEALTHIER HUTTON IS THE PRESIDENT OF LOUISIANA VAPING ASSOCIATION, THE GROUP WORKS TO ENSURE THAT ALL VAPE PRODUCTS REMAIN ON THE SHELF.

SHE OWNS BIG CHIEF VAPING PRODUCTS.

SELENA DAVIS CHAMPIONS COMMUNITY HEALTH.

HER ORGANIZATION OVERSEES THE STATE'S CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FROM A LIVING.

DAVIS HAS MORE THAN A DECADE OF PUBLIC HEALTH EXPERIENCE.

SHE RECENTLY PRODUCED STORIES ABOUT VAPING, AMONG COLLEGE STUDENTS.

NOW, WE GO TO OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE FOR QUESTIONS, I WOULD LIKE TO ASK EACH OF YOU FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE IS VAPING A PROBLEM IF LOUISIANA, ALEX WE'LL BEGIN WITH YOU.

AS YOU HEARD FROM MANY OF THE PRINCIPALLISTS WE DO THINK THAT VAPING IS A GROWING CONCERN IN THE STATE.

A COUPLE REASONS, ONE WE KNOW THAT VAPING IS INCREASING DRAMATICALLY IN A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME.

TWO WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE SAFETY OF VAPING, AND THIRD IT'S WHO'S VAPING.

WE'RE SEEING A DECLINE AMONGST ADULT VAPORS BUT A GROWTH IN UNIVERSITY AND THAT'S CONCERNING.

IT HAS AN IMPACT ON BRAIN DEVELOPMENT AND WE DON'T KNOW ENOUGH ABOUT THESE DEVICES TO SAY THEY'RE SAFE.

HEALTHER?

I THINK VAPING IS A PROBLEM IN LOUISIANA?

ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I WOULDN'T CALL VAPING A PROBLEM.

I WOULD CALL VAPING A SOLUTION TO A DEADLY PROBLEM.

WITH BIGGEST PROBLEM WITH VAPING IS A BEGINNING BETWEEN THE HARMFUL PRODUCTS AND THE MISCONCEPTION THAT VAPING IS GETTING RIGHT NOW.

VAPEING HAS HELPED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE COUNTRY HELP QUIT THE NUMBER ONE PREVENTABLE DEATH OF SMOKING CIGARETTES AND WHERE YOU HAVE YOUR THC, BLACK MARKET CARTS THAT ARE HARMING AND CAUSING ILLNESS AND DEATH.

AND THEY'RE TWO COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PRODUCTS AND I THINK THAT'S THE BIGGEST PROBLEM THAT VAPING IS FACING MORE THAN VAPING BEING A PROBLEM I. IT'S A SOLUTION.

THANK YOU FOR THAT.

SELENA?

YES, MUCH LIKE ALEX, WE DO FEEL LIKE VAPING IS AN ISSUE HERE IN THE STATE OF LOUISIANA.

PARTICULARLY AS YOU SAW THE RATES OF VAPING AMONG HIGH SCHOOL AND MOORE STUDENTS HAS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS AGO.

AND WE ARE COMMITTED REALLY TO PREVENTING INITIATION AMONG UNIT.

WE HAVE KNOW ALSO THAT VAPING HAS A SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE BRAIN AND IN THE BODY CAN ALSO CAN BE SIGNIFICANTLY ADDICTIVE FOR YOUTH AND THERE ARE STUDIES THAT SHOW THAT IT CAN LEAD TO FOLKS USING CIGARETTES IN THE FUTURE.

SELENA THANK YOU FOR THAT.

I'M IN THE MIDDLE HERE.

I WOULD CONSIDER VAPING AN ISSUE IF THE PRODUCT THAT THEY ARE SMOKING IS ILLEGAL AND NOT REGULATED BY THE FDA.

AND ALSO IF SOMEONE UNDER THE AGE OF 18 IS VAPING THOSE PRODUCTS.

BUT IF THEY'RE OVER THE AGE OF 18 THEY CAN MAKE THEIR OWN DECISIONS AND AS LONG AS THE PRODUCT IS LEGAL I DON'T REALLY THINK ANYONE SHOULD BE TOO WORRIED ABOUT THEM.

OKAY, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

AND NOW WE'LL GO TO OUR AUDIENCE FOR QUESTIONS AND WE DIDN'T GET TO TALK TO YOU EARLIER BUT LET'S TALK TO YOU RIGHT NOW.

OFF QUESTION FOR OUR PANEL.

AS SOMEBODY WHO WORKS IN THE FIELD OF PREVENTION WITH OUR YOUTH IN EAST BATON ROUGE PARISH.

WHO DO YOU WORK WITH?

THE EYE CARE PROGRAM.

AND MY QUESTION IS ARE THERE ANY PLAN FOR A PREVENTION CAMPAIGN TARGETED TO CHILDREN, YOUNG ADULTS AND EVEN PARENTS TO COUNTERACT ALL OF THE MEDIA THAT THEY'RE GETTING AND THE MESSAGINGS FROM THE VAPING INDUSTRY TO LET THEM KNOW THAT IT'S UNSAFE OR WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES MAY BE THAT WOULD HELP US IN OUR ENDEAVORS WITH THE YOUTH IN OUR COMMUNITY.

DOCTOR, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT?

SURE, WE HAVE RESOURCES TO ADDRESS VAPING ALREADY.

IN OUR EXISTING TOBACCO LINING, THE 1-800 QUIT NOW CAN GIVE SOME INFORMATION BUT THIS IS ANOTHER AREA WHERE WE'RE CAUGHT FLAT FOOTED AS PUBLIC HEALTH PROFESSIONALS.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IT TAKE THE GET SOMEBODY NOT TO VAPE.

JUST HOW MUCH NICOTINE IS IN A JUUL, IT'S ESSENTIALLY LIKE SMOKING A PACK OF CIGARETTES IN A SINGLE TWICE, SO THAT'S STILL A NICOTINE DELIVERY DEVICE TO A YOUTH.

SO THIS IS AN AREA THAT WE HAVE RESOURCES FOR TOBACCO FROM THE CIGARETTE ERA BUT I THINK WE ARE TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE, WHAT'S THE RIGHT WAY TO GET PEOPLE OFF NICOTINE, ESPECIALLY OUR YOUTH AND WE DON'T HAVE THE ANSWER YET.

SELENA DO YOU ALSO WANT TO DISCUSS HER QUESTION?

SURE, AND I WILL SAY ON THE PREVENTION SIDE THE LOUISIANA TOBACCO FREE LIVING CAMPAIGN IS DOING A LOT OF WORK AROUND PREVENTION.

ONE OF THOSE AREAS IS AROUND POLICY.

SO WE'RE REALLY URGING LOUISIANA LAWMAKERS, AS WELL AS EDUCATION LEADERS TO REALLY HELP US WITH PROMOTING SMOKE FREE ORDINANCES ALL ACROSS THE STATE.

WE WORK WITH CITIES, VILLAGES, TOWNSHIPS AND THE LIKE TO PROMOTE SMOKE FREE ORDINANCES.

RIGHT NOW ABOUT 25 PERCENT OR A MILLION PEOPLE OUT OF 4 MILLION ARE COVERED WITH A SMOKE FREE ORDINANCE ACROSS THE STATE AND WE HAVE 3 MILLION MORE PEOPLE TO GO, AND THAT INCLUDES FOR THE MOST PART VAPING AS WELL.

SO THAT'S A HUGE PUSH THAT I WANT TO NOTE.

YOU SAID FOR THE MOST PART, BUT DOES IT COVER FULLY?

SOME SMOKE FREE ORDINANCES THAT PASSED BEFORE THE VAPING, FOR EXAMPLE, IN ALEXANDRA WE WANT VAPING TO BE INCLUDED IN THAT.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

PER SELL, GIVE US YOUR FULL NAME, IF YOU WOULD AND YOUR QUESTION FOR THE PANEL.

I'M ASSOCIATION MANAGER WITH THE CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE LIVING AND MY QUESTION IS, WHAT STEPS ARE BEING TAKEN IN LOUISIANA TO ENFORCE THE FLAVOR BAN ON VAPE PRODUCT SENTENCE.

INWE'LL GO TO YOUON THAT, AGAIN, SELENA.

THAT'S A LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH QUESTION, I THINK, BE I THINK FROM THE PUBLIC HEALTH AFTER AVENUE ADVOCACY SIDE WE'RE DOING EDUCATION.

AGAIN, GOING BACK TO YOUTH ONE OF THE PIECES OF WORK WE TO IS EDUCATING PROVIDERS, EDUCATORS AND PEOPLE WHO ARE GOING TO BE WORKING WITH YOUTH TO EDUCATE THEM ABOUT WHAT IT MEANS AND WHAT THE HARMFUL IMPACTS ARE ON THEIR BODIES AND WE'RE ALSO WORKING ALONGSIDE LGH TO FIGURE OUT WHAT REGULATION LOOKS LIKE AND THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT ABOUT WHAT THEY DO.

JUST TO TOUCH ON THAT, THE FDA AND ATC, EVEN RIGHT NOW ARE HAVING PROBLEMS WITH EVEN CURRENT ENFORCEMENT.

A LARGE PORTION OF TEENS ARE GETTING THESE PRODUCTS THROUGH PURCHASES.

RIGHT THERE ARE NO LAW ON THE BOOK THAT HOLD A TEEN ACCOUNTABLE AND OUR REPRESENTATIVE DON'T WANT TO PUT ANY KIND OF ACCOUNTABILITY ON THE TEENS.

SO I'M NOT REALLY SURE HOW THEY'RE GOING TO HANDLE ANOTHER REGULATION BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ENOUGH OFFICERS AT THE TIME RIGHT NOW TO REGULATE WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE MOMENT.

LET ME ASK YOU REAL QUICK, WHAT I GUESS THE -- THAT'S HOW MOST KIDS GET THEIR DEVICES BECAUSE WE'RE PRETTY STRICT ABOUT IDING PEOPLE.

SO A STRAW PURCHASE WOULD BE AN 18-YEAR-OLD BUYING THE PRODUCT AND THEN GOING OUTSIDE AND HANDING IT TO THE KIDS AND WE'VE ADDRESSED THIS MULTIPLE TIMES WITH THE ATC SPECIFICALLY WHO ENFORCES IT AND IT'S -- THEY REALLY CAN'T DO MUCH ABOUT IT.

JUST TO ADD, I THINK THERE'S STILL A LOT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT WHAT THE FEDERAL REGULATIONS ARE GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

SEPTEMBER 20 PRESIDENT TRUMP SIGNED THE BILL INTO LAW BUT WE STILL HAVEN'T SEEN REGULATIONS COMING OUT EXPLAINING WHAT ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE EVEN THOUGH IT WAS EFFECTIVE IMMEDIATELY.

THE FLAVOR BAN WAS ANNOUNCED JANUARY 2 AND GIVEN 30 DAYS TO BE PUT INTO EFFECT.

STILL HAVEN'T SEEN WHAT THAT ENFORCEMENT MECHANISM IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

WE CAN ASSUME BASED ON WHAT WE'VE SEEN AND WHAT THEY'VE SAID AS FAR AS WHICH FLAVORS WILL BE BANNED, ALL OF THEM EXCEPT TOBACCO AND MENTHOL.

AND CURRENTLY WORKING TO FIND OUT WHAT KIND OF LEGISLATIVE ACTION NEEDS TO BE TAKEN.

WHAT WOULD THE FLAVOR BAN DO TO YOUR BUSINESS?

WELL, THE FLAVOR BAN -- DID YOU MAKE SOME OF THE -- MY FLAVORS AREN'T ACTUALLYND SUBJECT TO THE FLAVOR BAN.

SO I THINK THAT'S A MISCONCEPTION.

HE'S ONLY BANNED THE POT WHICH WOULD BE THE JUUL, IT'S ONLY THE POD DEVICES WHICH IS COMPLETELY SEPARATE.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPONENTS WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE VAPOR INDUSTRY AS A WHOLE AND YOU HAVE THE OPEN SYSTEM DICES AND THE CLOSED SYSTEM DEVICES WHICH ARE GOING TO BE THE ONES THAT ARE BANNED.

THAT IS REALLY GOING TO HURT THE CONVENIENCE STORE MORE THAN ME PERSONALLY.

HAS THIS ISSUE EVOLVED AND COULD THERE BE CHANGES IN LAW SAY A FLAVOR BAN WOULD IMPACT YOU?

WOULD THAT BE THE END OF YOUR BUSINESS?

ABSOLUTELY.

90 PERCENT OF ANY SALES ARE FLAVORED.

100 PERCENT OF MY CUSTOMERS ARE 18 OR OLER AND I SELL TWO PERCENT OF TOBACCO AND MENTHOL AND THE REST, 90 PERCENT ALL ADULTS IS ALL FLAVORS.

THANK YOU.

SO WE DON'T KNOW WHAT SALES WOULD LOOK LIKE WITHOUT FLAVORS BECAUSE FLAVORS HAVE BEEN THERE FROM THE BEGINNING AND WE ARE TALKING ABOUT ONE OF THE MOST ADDICTIVE SUBSTANCES ON EARTH.

A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN I'VE TREATED PATIENTS WHO RECOVERED FROM HEROIN ADDICTION AND WERE STILL SMOKING.

SO THE IDEA THAT BUSINESS WOULD HAVE DISAPPEAR WITHOUT FLAVORINGS WE HAVE TO EXPLORE FURTHER.

THE OTHER POINT OF CONCERN FOR ME IS YOU HEARD ABOUT THE E-CIGARETTE AND VAPING ASSOCIATED LUNG INJURY, ILLNESSES THAT WE'RE SEEING AROUND THE COUNTRY.

THOSE ARE USUALLY FROM PRODUCTS THAT SOMEBODY HAS MANIPULATE.

IN THIS CASE IT'S NOT A SHOP LIKE YOU SAW WHERE SOMEBODY LOOKED TO BE DOING GOOD TECHNIQUES BUT THOSE VAPING LIQUIDS WHERE SOMEONE IS ADDING SOMETHING TO IT THAT'S WHAT IS DRIVING THE INJURIES.

I WANT TO YOU SOMETHING REAL QUICK, BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE REPORTING ON THIS WITH STUDENTS, WHAT WERE YOU FINDING ABOUT STUDENTS WITH FLAVORS AND VAPING IN GENERAL?

SO I'M KIND OF ON HER SIDE WITH THIS OF.

I THINK ADULTINGS LIKE FLAVORS LIKE KIDS WOULD BUT IF YOU'RE ADDICTED TO NICOTINE, YOU'RE ADDICTED TO NICOTINE, YOU'RE GOING TO SMOKE IT WHETHER IT TASTES LIKE MENTHOL OR TOBACCO OR FRUIT PUNCH OR WHATEVER.

SO IF SOMEBODY WANTS IT THEY'RE GOING TO GET THEIR HANDS ON IT.

HEATHER?

I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU A QUESTION.

SO LIKE YOU WERE SAYING THE ILLEGAL BLACK MARKET CARTRIDGES, THE CDC CAME OUT ON THE S&PTH AND STATED THAT WE WERE VERY CONCERNED BECAUSE I KNOW LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH WEBSITE STILL DOES NOT REFLECT THAT STATEMENT.

AND I DON'T THINK I'M SUPPOSED TO BE ASKING HIM A QUESTION, HUH?

THAT'S ALL RIGHT.

BUT ARE Y'ALL GOING TO UPDATE THAT STATEMENT TO REFLECT WHAT THE CDC SAYS?

BECAUSE I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE THE MISCONCEPTION THAT IT IS THE REGULAR VAPOR PRODUCTS THAT HAVE CAUSED HEAT INDICES ILLNESSES AND DEATHS AND ADULTS WHO COULD BE COMING IN TO GET NICOTINE REPLACEMENT THERAPY, HARM REDUCTION AREN'T BECAUSE THEY'RE SCARED AND I WENT TO THE WEBSITE AND I WAS LINING, WELL I WOULD BE SCARED IF I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON.

SO WE DO UPDATE THAT WEBSITE ON A WEEKLY BASIS AND WE REFER TO THE LATEST REPORTS.

AND EVEN THOUGH THE CDC DID FIND MOST OF THE CASES INVOLVED USE OF A VITAMIN E ACETATE THERE ARE STILL SOME THAT ONLIED THAT TOBACCO IN THEIR HISTORY.

SO THERE IS STILL A QUESTION THERE OF WHAT EXACTLY IS CAUSING THE CONCERN.

SO WE CAN'T SAY THAT YOU'RE SAFE IF YOU'RE JUST USING A POD THAT'S JUST TOBACCO AND THAT'S WHY WE DON'T UPDATE THE WEBSITE UNTIL WE KNOW WHAT'S SAFE TO LEAVE THAT -- TO REMOVE THAT ELEMENT OF DOUBT.

IT WAS 96 PERCENT THAT THEY FOUND AND THE ONES THAT DID SAY THEY WERE USING THC WERE UNDERAGE.

THERE WAS SOME PROPORTION THAT HAD REPORTED JUST TOBACCO USE AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

WE CAN'T IGNORE THAT.

LET'S GO BACK TO OUR AUDIENCE NOW.

LESLIE WE HAVEN'T TALKED TO YOU YET SO PLEASE GIVE US YOUR FULL NAME AND WHAT'S YOUR QUESTION?

MY NAME IS LESLIE PLAY AND I'M WITH LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE LIVING.

WITH THE SINGLE USE FLAVORS I JUST WANTED TO KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE IF WE WERE TO BASICALLY GO AFTER ALL OF THE FLAVORS AS OPPOSED TO JUST A SINGLE USE, AND ALSO JUST THE RESEARCH.

WE DON'T HAVE 20, 30, 40 YEARS OF RESEARCH CONCERNING VAPING AND THAT'S A CONCERN AS WELL.

WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE AND HOW DO YOU THINK THAT WILL IMPACT THINGS OVER THE LONG-TERM?

BECAUSE RIGHT NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT THE SHORT-TERM.

DO I THE TOBACCO EDUCATION IN REGION TWO WHERE WE ARE TODAY AND THAT'S JUST THE CONCERN AFTER STUDYING EVERYTHING THAT HAS TO DO WITH SMOKING.

DR.

B, DO YOU WANT TO TAKE THAT?

SURE.

SO OF AGAIN, I DON'T WANT TO STATE IN EAT DIRECTION WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF WE GOT RID OF FLAVORINGS.

I THINK FROM MY STANDPOINT I WOULD FEEL MORE COMFORTABLE THAT IT'S NOT LIKELY TO BE ATTRACTIVE TO NEW VAPORS AND ESPECIALLY YOUTH.

WE HAVE DATA FROM OUR MUTUAL SURVEY ON YOUTH USE OF VAPING THAT SAID NOT SURPRISINGLY A THIRD OF PEOPLE WHO STARTED VAPING IN MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL WERE INFLUENCED BY THEIR FRIENDS AND FAMILY.

SO PEER PRESSURE WOULD BE EVERYONE'S GUESS, BUT 22 PERCENT OF FOLKS SAID THEY STARTED BECAUSE OF THE FLAVORING.

SO I WOULD LIKE TO SEE AN IMPACT ON THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WHO ARE STARTING PURELY FLAVORINGS, AND I THINK THAT WOULD BE A GOOD THING FOR THE STATE.

I'M SORRY, THE STUDY THAT YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS THAT THE CDC STUDY AND NUMBER TWO, WITH FRIEND ASKS FAMILY, AND UNDER THE AGE THREE WAS FLAVORS.

(SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY.)

I WANT TO CHECK IN WITH HUNTER REAL QUICK, I KNOW YOU'RE IN THE VAPING INDUSTRY.

AGAIN, YOUR QUESTION AND YOUR FULL NAME AND WHAT YOU'RE WITH.

MY NAME IS HUNTER AND I'M WITH THE LOUISIANA VAPING ASSOCIATION, AND MY MAIN QUESTION IS AS FAR AS IS IT YOUTH EPIDEMIC IS CONCERNED, WHERE ARE THEY GATHERING THAT DATA?

IS THAT GUARANTEED DATA SHOWING THAT IT IS 17 YEARS OF AGE AND BELOW?

AND YOU KNOW, ARE THE NEW STUDIES THAT COULD POSSIBLY COME OUT BY THE END OF THIS YEAR GOING TO INCLUDE THE AGES 19, 20 UP TO 21?

ARE THOSE STATISTICAL VALUES GOING TO GO UP BECAUSE NOW THEY'RE GOING TO INCLUDE ANOTHER 7.8 MILLION PEOPLE IN THE STUDY?

OR AGAIN BACK TO ARE THESE ONLY NUMBERS THAT ARE PULLED FROM TEENAGERS THAT ARE NOT OF LEGAL PURCHASING AGE?

THAT'S REALLY THE BIG QUESTION.

WHO WANT TO TAKE THAT.

SURE, THE STUDY THAT WAS REFERENCED EARLIER, THE YOUTH TOBACCO SURVEY WAS DONE AMONGST A SAMPLE OF LOUISIANA MIDDLE SCHOOL AND HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, SO THAT WAS THE SOURCE OF THE DATA.

SO THEY COULD HAVE 18-YEAR-OLDS IN THERE.

PERHAPS, IF THERE ARE HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS 18-YEAR-OLDS COULD BE IN THERE.

IT WAS BROKEN DOWN BY AGE, SO IT WAS SEVERAL REPORTED AGE, SELF REPORTED YOUTH.

SO THIS IS A STANDARD TO SURVEY SOMETHING LIKE A HEALTH RISK FACTOR LIKE SMOKING, AND YOUR QUESTION WILL WE SO THAT GO UP TO 19 AND 20.

I THINK IT'S 18 AND BELOW.

WE WOULDN'T SUDDENLY MOVE IT UP TO 21.

HOWEVER WE CAPTURE STUDIES FOR INSTANCE, THE BEHAVIORAL RISK FACTOR SURVEY THAT GOES TO ADULTS, FOR INSTANCE ADULT VAPING IS ON THE DECLINE.

THE GROWTH IS LARGELY DRIVEN BY YOUTH?

DO SCHOOLS TAKE AWAY VAPING PRODUCTS?

THE REPORT IS BATHROOMS ARE BECOMING GROUND ZERO FOR VAPORS.

WHAT ARE THEY DOING WE HAVE OUR YOUTH FACILITATION COORDINATOR WHO'S HERE IN THE AUDIENCE, WHO'S DOING A LOT OF WORK WITH SCHOOLS, TRAINING OF ECTOS AND YOUTH.

ALSO IF YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT ENFORCE.

, WE -- SOMATISMERS CAN'T TELL WHAT DEVICES ARE ACTUALLY VAPINGFUL THEY LOOK LIKE USBS OR EVERY DAY DEVICES SO WITH SOME IT'S HARD.

I MIGHT GO GO TO WHAT YOU WERE TALKING ABOUT.

KENYATA?

SCHOOLS ARE DOING THEIR BEST TO GET VAPING PRODUCTS OUT OF THE HANDS OF YOUTH.

NOW THAT EDUCATORS ARE -- THEY COME TOGETHER AND THEY DO THEIR BIG WORKSHOP, THEY'RE ALL BEING EDUCATED ON WHAT VAPING IS, WHAT TO LOOK OUT FOR.

IT'S NO LONGER LOOK FOR A CLOUD OF SMOKE, IT'S DETECT THE SMELL.

AND WE HAVE GONE TO SCHOOLS THAT SHUT DOWN THE HALLWAYS WHEN THEY SMELL A CERTAIN SMELL AND CHECK ALL THE KIDS.

SO THEY ARE FINDING THE PRODUCTS, THEY'RE TAKING THEM AWAY.

THERE WAS ONE SCHOOL THAT DOES DRUG CHECKS AND WHEN THEY CHECK FOR DRUG USE THEY ALSO CHECK FOR NICOTINE USE.

SO THEY'RE DOING THEY'RE BOAST BEST TO GET THESE PRODUCTS OUT OF THE HANDS OF YOU'LL.

WHEN THEY CAN.

I WANT TO GET TO BRIDGETT AND TELL US PLEASE YOUR FULL NAME, YOUR QUESTION, WHO YOU REPRESENT.

HI, MY NAME IS GRIGND E-BRIDGETT.

MY QUESTION IS TODAY THERE'S A LOT OF ANTI-VAPING MEDIA AND CIRCULATION, BUT WHAT IS THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY FOR YOUTH TO BE MARKETED AWAY FROM VAPING?

I CAN SHARE WITH YOU THROUGH THE LOUISIANA CAMPAIGN FOR TOBACCO FREE LIVING IS DOING.

WE ACTUALLY -- MEDIA IS AN INTERESTING AND EFFECTIVE TOOL TO HELP ESPECIALLY WITHIN THIS POPULATION, AND WE ACTUALLY RELEASED AND LAUNCHED BACK IN THE FALL A CAMPAIGN CALLED FOOL FOOL.U.S.

TO BE A PLAY ON JUUL AND IT BASICALLY PROVIDES A LITTLE PARODY ABOUT VAPING AND THE HARMS OF VAPING AND THEN ALSO HAVE THE CALL TO ACTION TO HELP PEOPLE QUIT SMOKING, PROVIDE THEM WITH RESOURCES AND ALSO THE SIGN UP TO HELP US IMPACT VAPING ACROSS THE STATE.

SO THAT'S ONE THING WE'VE DONE AT THE STATE LEVEL.

AND TO HER QUESTION, DID YOU FIND A TARGET FOR PEOPLE VAPE?

LIKE A TARGET AGE?

WELL, A TARGET GROUP, YEAH.

I CAN SAY FROM EXPERIENCE THAT BEING A COLLEGE STUDENT, PRETTY MUCH EVERYONE AROUND ME VAPES.

IT'S A VERY PREVALENT PART OF SOCIETY RIGHT NOW, SOCIALLY AND WHEN YOU'RE BY YOURSELF BECAUSE YOU'RE ADDICTED TO IT.

THE NICOTINE YOU GET HOOKED ON IT AND IT'S REALLY HARD THE QUITS.

WHAT IS THE PLACE THAT IS DRIVING YOU THERE?

IS IT ADVERTISING?

, IS IT SOCIAL MEDIA?

I WOULD SAY IT'S YOUR SOCIAL CIRCLE.

YOU'RE OUT HAVING FUN AT A FOOTBALL GAME OREGON WHATEVER AND YOUR FRIEND AS ONE AND THEY'RE LIKE, DO YOU WANT TO TRY IT?

AND YOU MENTIONED THAT EVERYONE IS DOING IT SO IT'S ALL AROUND.

PEER PRESSURE GETS TO YOU.

DO YOU VAPE YOURSELF?

I DO BUT I'VE TRIED TO QUIT MULTIPLE TIMES.

I'M GETTING THERE.

I WILL SAY THAT IT'S A NEW CIGARETTE.

IT MAY NOT BE AS HARMFUL RIGHT NOW THAT WE KNOW OF BUT EITHER WAY YOU'RE STILL PUTTING STEAM OR COMBUSTION, SMOKE, WHATEVER IN YOUR LUNGS SO -- AND YOU ADMIT YOU'VE TRIED TO QUIT?

YES, I'VE TRIED TO QUIT MULTIPLE TIMES AND I ALWAYS COME BACK TO IT BECAUSE IT'S IN MY SOCIAL CIRCLE.

LET'S GO BACK TO OUR AUDIENCE NOW.

TIM, OFF QUESTION.

JUST TO TOUCH ON HOW DO WE TEACH YOUTH OR WHAT CAN WE DO TO CHANGE THE APPEAL OF VAPING TO YOUTH.

WE CAN FOLLOW EUROPE.

THE U.K.

HAS SWITCHED THEIR MODEL OVER TO TOBACCO HARM REDUCTION.

THEY DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH VAPING IN EUROPE.

THEY HAVE THE MOE SUCCESSFUL AMOUNT OF SMOKERS WHO HAVE TRANSITIONED TO VAPING PRODUCTS.

I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT NUMBERS BUT THEY HAVE RASHINGABLE NUMBERS AND THEY PLAN TO BE CIGARETTE FREE BY 2030 I THINK IT IS.

WHICH IS GREAT WE'RE DOING THAT FOR ADULTS IN EUROPE, BUT EUROPE DOESN'T SHOW PUPPETS JUULING AND HAVE THESE COMMERCIALS ON TV THAT PARODIES AND WE DON'T HAVE ALL OF THE POSTERS IN EVERY SCHOOL BATHROOM THAT ADVERTISING -- I WAS ANSWERING HER QUESTION.

YOUR QUESTION THOUGH THAT YOU HAVE -- MY QUESTION THAT I WROTE EARLIER IS ON ENFORCEMENT.

AND HEATHER KIND OF TOUCHED ON THAT AND I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE ENFORCEMENT HERE.

WE DON'T KNOW WHAT THE ENFORCEMENT IS GOING TO LOOK LIKE.

BUT THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY.

THERE'S -- YOU GET CAUGHT WITH A DEVICE AS A YOUTH AND THEY TAKE IT AWAY.

NO BIG DEAL.

SMALL SCHOOLS DON'T EVEN CALL THE PARENTS TO LET THEM KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON.

SO I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE SUPPLETIVE TYPE OF PENALTY.

WHEN I WAS YOUNG IT WAS SMOKING.

WE HAD THE SAME ISSUES.

THE PEER PRESSURE FROM SOCIAL CIRCLES BUT WE NEVER HAD AN ENFORCEMENT POLICY IN LOUISIANA THAT PENALIZED OR MADE SOMETHING ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUTH.

TO ME YOU WOULD HAVE BETTER SUCCESS IF THEY HAD SOMETHING TO LOSE IF THEY GET CAUGHT WITH IT.

LET'S DIRECT THAT TO HEATHER BECAUSE YOU'RE A STORE OWNER SO WHAT ARE YOU FINDING WITH THIS QUESTION?

SO BASICALLY TO DETER THE TEENS IS WE NEED TO ENFORCE THE CURRENT -- WE NEED TO ENFORCE AND HAVE ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THE SHELL PURCHASERS AND THE TEENS TO BE ABLE TO STOP THE CHILDREN FROM GETTING IT.

RIGHT NOW WHAT TIM IS TRYING TO SAY IS THERE'S NO ACCOUNTABILITY, AND MIKE URN SAYING YOU DISAGREE?

I DISAGREE WITH THEM SAYING THAT SCHOOLS DID NOT ISSUE CONSEQUENCES TO PARENTS OR DID NOT CALL PARENTS IF THEY CAUGHT A STUDENT WITH A VAPE OR JUULING.

I CAN ONLY SPEAK FOR MY DISTRICT AND WE DO CALL A PARENT EVERY TIME.

WE DO TAKE IT.

WE HAVE TEACHERS ON DUTY IN THE RESTROOMS BETWEEN CLASSES BECAUSE IT'S SO RAMPANT.

YOUR DISTRICT IS?

ASCENSION.

BUT I'M SURE WE'RE VERY MUCH LIKE MOST DISTRICTS ACROSS THE STATE AND ACROSS THE NATION TRYING TO FIGHT -- SO WHAT IS Y'ALL'S CONSEQUENCE?

REALLY IT CAN DEPEND BUT IT CAN BE AS MUCH AS A SATURDAY DETENTION, IT CAN BE AN EXPUNCTION.

WE DO FIND KIDS ARE VAPING BUT IT'S THC, AND SO WE DO HAVE TO DO TRAININGS WITH OUR TEACHERS ON WHAT TO LOOK FOR, HOW DO YOU STOP IT -- (SPEAKING SIMULTANEOUSLY.)

LET'S GO TO YOU QUESTION THEN.

AND I DO WANT TO ASK YOU THIS QUESTION.

WHAT IF THEY WERE CAUGHT DRINKING OR MORE?

HOW DOES THAT COMPARE TO -- SO DRINKING BECAUSE THEY ARE -- FOR SOME OF OR KIDS THEY ARE 18 BUT DRINKING IT'S A RECOMMENDED EXPULSION.

IN SOME CASES -- THIS DOES NOT GO TO THAT LEVEL THOUGH.

IT COULD BE IF THEY HAVE THE THC IN THEIR POD WHICH BECOMES AN ISSUE BECAUSE HOW DO WE PROVE THAT'S WHAT IT IS.

IS THAT REALLY WHAT IT IS, AND IT BECOMES A LEGAL ISSUE AT THAT POINT AND A BATTLE THAT WE ADDRESS WITH KIDS AND HAVE TO DEAL WITH PARENTS ON, IS THAT REALLY WHAT THE -- ARE THERE ANY RULES FOR SMOKING A CIGARETTE?

SO SMOKING A CIGARETTE THEY GET THE SAME THING FOR VAPING, EITHER THE SATURDAY DETENTION AND SUSPENSION.

Y'ALL ARE DOING MORE THAN THE ACTUAL POLICE ARE RIGHT NOW BECAUSE -- WE ARE FIGHTING THIS A GREAT DEAL.

WE HAVE -- ALL OF OUR HIGH SCHOOLS HAVE ADVISORIES WHERE WE TEACH LESSONS.

WE HAVE FOCUS GROUPS WITH OUR KIDS.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE, WE'VE PARTICIPATED WITH THE TOBACCO CESSATION ORGANIZATION.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH OUR HOSPITAL.

WE'VE PARTNERED WITH THE DRUG FREE ORGANIZATION AND WE DID A CAMPAIGN TO EDUCATE PARENTS AND HIGH-SCHOOLERS WHAT IT IS.

AND WENT WE TALK TO FOCUS GROUPS OUR KIDS SAY THE THING THAT'S GOING TO HELP THEM THE MOST IS TALKING ABOUT THE DANGERS OF IT AND THAT'S THE THING THAT DRIVERS THEM TO SAY I MIGHT STOP.

DID WE GET YOUR QUESTION?

MOSTLY WE TALKED ABOUT RESOURCES THAT YOUR ORGANIZATIONS HAVE AND SO WE'RE TRYING THE EDUCATE KIDS AND TRYING TO EDUCATE PARENTS AND TEACHERS.

WHERE DO WE GO FOR THESE RESOURCES OTHER THAN SEARCHING ONLINE, WHAT CAN YOU PROVIDE FOR US AND WHAT SUPPORT WITH YOU GIVE US IN THIS BATTLE.

CAN I REMIND FOLKS THAT NICOTINE IS AN ADDICTION AND AS THIS YOUNG LADY MENTIONED, FOLKS NEED RESOURCES TO QUIT.

WE'RE TALKING ABOUT BEING PUNITIVE WITH THIS BECAUSE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ADDICTED AND SO NOW WE HAVE TO GET TO CESSATION RESOURCES.

AND THOSE INCLUDE THINGS I MENTIONED LIKE QUIT WITH US.ORG.

AND PEOPLE CAN CALL THE QUIT LINE.

ALSO IF YOU WANT TO GET TO A PERSON, YOU CAN REACH US AND REQUEST US TO COME TO A SCHOOL.

YOU CAN REACH US AT TOBACCO FREE LIVING OR YOU CAN GO TO OUR WEBSITE AT TOBACCO FREE LIVING.ORG.

SO THERE ARE RESOURCES.

WITH LIMITS THOUGH.

ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS IS WE DON'T KNOW A RESOURCE YET TO HELP KIDS STOP VAPING.

THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO QUILT SMOKING IS NOT VAPING AT ALL.

AND THOSE DIDN'T WORK FOR KIDS WHO ARE VAPING SO OUR BIGGEST SILVER BULLET DIDN'T WORK IN CHILDREN.

SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR BIGGEST CONCERNS.

WE'RE SEEING A VAPING BALLOON.

THE MOST MP THING WE CAN DO IS PREVENT NEW PEOPLE FROM REACHING THESE DEVICES.

AND TO ECHO WHAT SELENA WAS SAYING THE EVIDENCE DOESN'T SUPPORT THAT FOR TOBACCO AND IT PROBABLY IS T NO GOING TO BE EFFECTIVE FOR EFFECTIVE FOR VAPING EITHER.

WE DON'T HAVE DATA.

THE MOST EFFECTIVE THING YOU CAN DO IS PUT STOCK PENALTIES IN FOR SALE.

AND WE DON'T DEAL WITH SPEAKING WITH THE CHILDREN OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT BUT AS FAR AS EDUCATING TEACHERS AND PARENTS WE'LL BE HAPPY TO COME AND EDUCATE TEACHERS AND PARENTS.

WE ALMOST FEEL LIKE THE PREVENTION IS ALMOST LIKE GLAMORIZING IT.

SO OKAY AT THIS POINT YOU'RE TELLING ME IT'S BAD AND I SEE THIS POSTER AND I SEE THIS POSTER AND AND IT'S ENTICING TO US.

SO WE DON'T WANT TO GO AND SPEAK TO THE KIDS.

WE DON'T FEEL LIKE WE SHOULD BE BRINGING PRODUCTS TO THE KIDS AND I WOULDING THEM ON HEY THIS IS HOW YOU USE THIS.

BUT WE'RE MORE THAN HAPPEN TO -- WE HAVE A PLETHORA OF PRODUCTS THAT WE CAN BRING TO SHOW THEM SO THEY KNOW THE THINGS TO LOOK FOR THAT THEY'RE CONFUSED.

PEEL, YOU HAVE A QUESTION AND TELL US WHAT YOU'RE WITH.

MY NAME IS PETER AND ONCE AGAIN I'M AN ALCOHOL DRUG AND VIOLENCE PREVENTION PROGRAM.

AND WE DO SEVERAL THINGS THAT WE HAVE IN PLACE THAT ARE -- IT DIDN'T COME OFF AS SERIOUS BUT WE BRING IN DOCTORS.

WE BRING IN SOME OF OUR LOCAL AGENCIES THAT DEAL WITH MENTAL ILLNESS OR ADDICTION AND WE BRING THEM AND THEY SPEAK TOWER STUDENTS.

SO WE TO THAT ALREADY.

WE TRY TO -- OURS IS PREVENTION EDUCATION, SO WE TRY THE TO THE GET OUT IN FRONT OF IT BECAUSE WE ARE ABOUT CHOICES.

WE WANT OUR KIDS TO BE VERY INFORMED SO ONE DAY THEY'LL BE ABLE TO MAKE A CORRECT CHOICE.

I GUESS MY QUESTION IS AND I FEEL LIKE IT'S RUNNING IN THE SAME CIRCLES, BUT DO YOU GUYS -- BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE THERE'S A SINCERITY OF WHEN WE BROUGHT SAYING IN WE REALLY INTENDED IT TO BE AN ALTERNATIVE TO SMOKING.

THAT SEEMS WHAT YOU'RE WEATHER CHANNELING TO SAY AND I BELIEVE WHAT YOU BELIEVE.

BUT THE REALLY WITH THE STRONG PUSH AGAINST CIGARETTES -- BECAUSE I KNOW GROWING UP I FEEL LIKE WE ALMOST ERADICATE SMOKING AND NOW THERE'S A COMPLETE FLIP-FLOP WHERE THE -- IF I WERE TO TALK TO A STUDENT TODAY AND I SAID WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT CIGARETTES THEY WOULD SAY THAT'S TERRIBLE, YOU DON'T WANT TO DO THAT.

BUT IF YOU TELL THEM ABOUT VAPING THEY DO NOT SEE A CORRELATION BETWEEN THAT AND CIGARETTE SMOKING AND I KNOW IT'S NOT TOBACCO BUT IT'S NICOTINE AND OTHER THINGS IN IT.

BUT DO YOU FEEL THERE IS A RESPONSIBILITY IN YOUR INDUSTRY TO MAKE THIS RIGHT?

HERSELF SEE IF WE CAN GET A QUICK RESPONSE TO THAT QUESTION.

I'LL TRY TO BE QUICK BUT I THINK WHERE YOU'RE GOING WITH THAT IS THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT PART OF THE VAPOR INDUSTRY.

WE HAVE 13,000 BUSINESS OWNERS THAT ARE ANTIBIOTIC AND OLDER, ESTABLISHMENTS THAT IS STILL TO THIS DAY IS THEIR PURPOSE.

YOU HAVE ONE COMPANY THAT CAME IN WITH THESE HIGH NICOTINE PODS THAT ALL THE KIDS LIKE, THAT'S JUUL.

THAT'S ONE COMPANY OUT OF 13,000 DIFFERENT BUSINESS.

THEY CAME IN AND THEY HAVE THESE HIGH NICOTINE LEVELS THAT ARE ATTRACTIVE TO CHILDREN AND NOW THESE BUSINESSES ARE GETTING LUMPED INTO THE WRONGDOING OF ONE COMPANY.

SO I THINK THERE'S A SERIOUS DISTINCTION BECAUSE WE HAVE THAT PASSION AND I THINK ALL OF US STILL OPERATE IN THAT SAIL CAPACITY THAT WE ARE HERE FOR ADULT SMOKERS TO HELP THEM MAKE THAT TRANSITION, WE CAN'T CONTROL WHAT ANOTHER COMPANY DOES AND THAT IS THE ONLY COMPANY OWNED BY BIG TOBACCO TOO.

THE ONLY COMPANY OUT OF 13,000.

WE ARE NOT A BIG TOBACCO INDUSTRY.

I DON'T SELL JUUL IN MY SHOP BECAUSE OF THE HIGH NICOTINE LEVELS.

WE DON'T MAKE THOSE HIGH NICOTINE LEVELS AND WE LB.

ASKING THE STATE LEGISLATURE THIS YEAR TO MAKE A CAP FOR THAT.

WE HEARD A SHOP OWNER TALK ABOUT THAT, HIGH NICOTINE -- RIGHT YOU DON'T NEED THAT MUCH HIGH NICOTINE AND THAT'S WHERE JUUL CAME IN.

AND ONCE JUUL CAME ON THE MARKET THAT'S WHERE THE HEAP HAPPENED.

SO JUUL IS THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE MAKING IT RIGHT BUT WE'RE SERVERING FOR WHAT THEY DID.

GUYS WE'VE HAD A REALLY LIVELY DISCUSSION, WE'RE ACTUALLY OUT OF TIME.

IT'S GOOD BUT WE'VE GOT TO KEEP ON GOING.

I DO WANT TO THANK OUR PANEL.

THEY'VE BEEN PASSIONATE.

GREAT QUESTIONS.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR INSIGHT ON THIS MONTH'S TOPIC.

NOW, WHEN WE COME BACK WE WILL HAVE A FEW CLOSING COMMENTS.

ANDRE I LEARNED AN AWFUL LOT ABOUT A TOPIC I KNEW NOTHING ABOUT, AND I THINK WE'RE GOING TO BE SEEING MORE IN THE NEWS AND CERTAINLY POLICY CONVERSATIONS AND AS OUR PHYSICIAN INDICATED WE'LL PROBABLY RESEARCH -- WE DON'T KNOW ALL THE IMPLICATIONS OF THIS SO -- ABSOLUTELY.

AND WHATEVER THAT MARK IS THAT YOU NEED TO GO WHERE ELSE WHERE TO GO NEEDED TO BE ESTABLISHED.

MY SUGGESTION IS TO GET JOE BURROWS.

WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OUR WEBSITE AT.

YOU COMMENT ON TONIGHT'S SHOW BY CLICKING ON THE JOIN THE CONVERSATION TAB.

LAST YEAR MULTIPLE STATE WEBSITES WERE SIGNER ATTACKED TRIGGERING A SHUT DOWN.

FOUR SCHOOL DISTRICTS ALSO SAW A BREACH.

THE DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES ALSO.

SO HOW VULNERABLE ARE LOUISIANA SYSTEM?

WE LOOK AT THAT TOPIC, HACKED.

THAT'S WEDNESDAY FEBRUARY 26.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING US AND HAVE A GREAT NIGHT.