Free help is now available for teens who want to quit vaping through the Live Vape Free Text Line. Teens can access the service by texting “VAPE- FREE" to the number 873373. In Wisconsin, close to half (45.5%) of high school stu – dents have tried vaping (2019 Youth Risk Behavior Survey).

Results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey implemented in schools in the fall of 2021 will be available soon and will provide insight on how these trends have changed over the past 3 years. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), nicotine is highly addictive and can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. Knowing the harmful euects of nicotine makes it important for current e-cigarette users to quit vaping.

In 2019, tobacco retailer compliance checks through the Wisconsin Wins program found that 0% of the retail –

ers inspected (out of 50+ in spections) sold a tobacco or nicotine product to a minor in Chippewa County. Purchasing tobacco and nicotine products are just one way that youth can access vape products. However, through the Wisconsin Wins program, retailers are given access to tools such as free ID ver- ification training to ensure they don’t sell tobacco and nicotine products to youth. They can get this free, state-approved training to help their employees avoid underage sales at www. witobaccocheck.org.

As a reminder, in Decem- ber 2019, a federal Tobacco 21 law was passed that raised the national purchase age for all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to 21 years old.

This law makes it illegal to sell any tobacco product to a minor under the age of 21. Tobacco 21 applies to all retailers in the U.S. (including all states, U.S. territories, and tribal jurisdictions).

Parents, guardians, or other adults who want to help a young person in their life quit e-cigarettes can enroll in a free online course at www.dhs. wisconsin.gov/vapefree. The course teaches about warning signs and gives tips and tools for talking to the teen in their life.