‘We are coming for you if you are selling to our kids,’ mayor says

If you own a store in Corbin that is selling vaping products to minors, Mayor Suzie Razmus has a message for you.

Whitley Co. Health Department Public Health Director Marcy Rein addressed the Corbin City Commission Monday about the dangers of youth vaping.

“As far as local vape stores are concerned, they are on notice. We are cracking down. We are coming for you if you are selling to our kids. They need to take this seriously. Our police department will be coming for them,” Razmus said during the Corbin City Commission’s monthly meeting Monday.

Corbin City Attorney Bob Hammons noted that he recently prosecuted two people in Williamsburg for selling vaping products to underage patrons, and that the penalty wasn’t cheap.

News Journal archives indicate that a Williamsburg store clerk and the store owner/manager pleaded guilty in April in regards to the sale of vaping products to minors and were each ordered to pay a $1,000 fine to Alcohol Beverage Control.

During Monday’s meeting, Whitley County Health Department Public Health Director Marcy Rein addressed the city commission on the prevalence of vaping among young people and some of the dangers that it poses.

Rein noted that the 2022 National Youth Tobacco Survey shows that 1 in 10 high school and middle school students have used tobacco in the last 30 days prior to taking the survey. Of those that responded to the survey, e-cigarettes or vaping, is the most common type of tobacco used.

“If a youth uses, they are likely using every day,” Rein said.

More than half of youth that use vapes, use disposable vapes and one-quarter used pre-filled or refillable pods or cartridges.

“I think most surprising of all, 85 percent of youth, who use vaping products, use flavored devices. Fruity and candy flavors are the most common,” she said. “This is all really consistent with what we hear anecdotally from parents and particularly from schools.”

Schools are also finding younger and younger students with vapes, including primary, intermediate and elementary age children in our community.

Vaping use is also causing students to flunk drug tests because they don’t know what is in the vapes that they are using even though they aren’t intentionally using THC, Rein added.

“Why do we care? Why is vaping bad? Well, vapes have nicotine and they also have toxic metals, like nickel, lead, chromium, tin and aluminum. Teen brains are still developing and they are very susceptible to nicotine addiction. Not only that, but nicotine changes their brains. In adolescents, it makes them more apt to be addicted to other substances throughout their life,” Rein said.

Given that adult use of tobacco locally is above the state and national average at more than 30 percent, Rein said that she is confident those numbers about youth use are an under representation of youth tobacco use in our community.

Rein said that she thinks it is important to enforce laws already on the books.

Kentucky law requires people to be 21 years old to buy tobacco products.

Existing tobacco free ordinances need to be enforced and schools need to enforce tobacco free policies at outdoor events in particular.

Rein noted that there are various conversations happening about possible state level changes to address youth tobacco use and vaping. One of the more promising ones being discussed is the potential for a state license to be implemented for businesses wanting to sell tobacco.

She encouraged city leaders and local residents to contact their legislators about this proposal.

“I think having a license to sell is a potential solution that is palatable on both sides of the issue, and has potential for success,” Rein added.

Hammons said that he thinks Rein has hit it right on the head with the state taking action, requiring a state license and passing something “with teeth to it.”

Free help is available

Kentucky Medicaid covers all quit tobacco medications and Kentucky law requires all private insurance companies to cover those resources as well.

There are also plenty of free resources for those wanting to quit tobacco use, including resources aimed at youths, such as My Life, My Quit. It can be accessed by texting “start my quit” to 36072, or by visiting ky.mylifemyquit.org.

“Anybody can access 1-800-QUITNOW,” Rein added.

Rein noted that there is no safe vape, and no vape has been approved for use as a quitting method for nicotine use.

“The nicotine amounts in a vape are much higher than you would get from a smoking a cigarette,” she said.