Your County
Menu ☰
Health Department
Looking for something specific?
Service Finder
×

01.

Help Me With...

Select from list
My Residential Property
My Driver's License or Vehicle Registration
Requesting Assistance
Elections
Health Department

02.

Select from list
My Property Valuation
Understanding My Valuation
Paying My Property Tax
Neighborhood Sales
Building Permits
Vehicle Registration - New Stickers
Vehicle Registration - New Vehicle
Drivers License - New or Renew
New Resident Vehicle Registration
Adult Protection
Child Welfare
Child Support
Child Care
Financial Assistance
Medical Assistance
Food Assistance
Register to Vote / Update Voter Registration
Upcoming Election Information
Ballot Drop Box Locations
Voter Service and Polling Centers
Birth/Death Records
Restaurant Inspections
Community Health
Child Care Center Inspections
Septic System Inspections
Emergency Preparedness & Response
Disease Surveillance
Mental and Behavioral Health Education
Community Health and Clinical Services
Women, Infants and Children

03.

×
Assessor Treasurer Building Employment Health Department Property Tax Relief and Reform
× Close
Health Department

Dangers of Smoking and Vaping Among Youth

What Percentage of High School Students in Colorado Smoke or Vape?

Although smoking has been on the decline for young people over the last decade, there are still those who smoke and use other tobacco products, such as e-cigarettes and vape pens. Healthy Kids Colorado Survey data shows us that 3% of high schoolers are currently using cigarettes.

Fast Facts about Youth and Tobacco:

  • While e-cigarette aerosol generally contains fewer harmful chemicals than the deadly mix of 7,000 chemicals in smoke from cigarettes, this does not make e-cigarettes safe. The CDC reports that using nicotine during adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
  • Some tobacco products can be purchased at a very low cost and come in a variety of flavors that are enticing to young people and incorrectly viewed as a “safer alternative”. The tobacco industry is constantly thinking of new products and ideas, and it is important to be aware of new products entering the market. Young people who try flavored tobacco because it seems more appealing or less dangerous than non-flavored tobacco may not intend to become regular users. However, many do because these products contain nicotine, giving youth access to addictive substances.
  • Vape use among young people is a growing concern as more young people become addicted to nicotine. In fact, the proportion of Douglas County students who reported using an electronic vapor product in the past 30 days (12.2%) is about four times higher than the proportion of students who reported smoking a cigarette in the past 30 days (3.3%) in 2021. The popularity and culture around vaping, as well as industry marketing tactics that target youth, are contributing to even younger generations using products that contain nicotine.
  • With repeated use, a young adult’s brain gets used to having nicotine. This can make them think they need nicotine just to feel okay. This is part of nicotine addiction.
Read More

Tobacco Free Schools: Is it a highlighter, or a vape pen?

Vape pen that looks exactly like a real pen

This is a vape pen disguised as a real pen that a school resource officer confiscated from a student.

Talking to the Young People in Your Life

Talking to the young people in your life about tobacco use can be difficult, but research shows that having these tough conversations can make a difference in their choices to use substances. Connecting with the young people in your life to discuss these topics, whether you’re a family member, teacher, coach, or anyone else with a meaningful relationship with a young person, can influence their decision to make a healthier choice. We offer free Quit-Kits for any community member looking to quit vaping or smoking.

 

 

×

Podcast sheds light on health concerns of Vaping

According to the Centers for Disease Control, e-cigarette and vaping use among middle and high school students is 5.8% nationwide, but Douglas County’s Community Health Survey shows it’s closer to 12.2% locally. That’s why the Douglas County Health Department is working to share information with parents, schools and other community leaders to help them start conversations with youth about vaping, nicotine use and the impact they can have on a young person’s health.

Douglas County Community Health Community Educators, Ashley Scollard and Alissa Huff sat down with Jason Hopcus, President/CEO of THE National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) for Arapahoe/Douglas Counties, for a discussion around teen vaping on the Nobody’s Perfect Podcast.

Visit our other pages:

Preventing Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco Use

Protecting Your Clean Air

Support for Quitting Smoking, Vaping and Tobacco