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State public-health experts warn of youth vaping epidemic; committee to file interim study
Summary
Health officials and educators told the committee that youth vaping in Arkansas has surged, acute vaping-associated lung injuries are under investigation, and a combination of education, local control, taxes, flavor bans and restrictions on advertising are policy options; an interim study on vaping will be filed.
State health officials, educators and advocacy groups told the Senate Public Health, Welfare and Labor Committee that youth vaping has risen sharply in Arkansas and that recent national and state clusters of severe pulmonary injury linked to vaping justify legislative review of policy options.
Secretary of Health Nate Smith summarized CDC reporting and early Arkansas data: nationally there were roughly 450 cases in 33 states of severe pulmonary injury associated with vaping; Arkansas had six probable cases under investigation (ages 19–50, four of six male, five hospitalized). Secretary Smith said symptoms have included respiratory distress with abnormal chest imaging and gastrointestinal symptoms; no single product or compound has been consistently linked to all cases.
Debbie Jones, superintendent of Bentonville Schools, described the problem in schools as “epidemic,” telling lawmakers her district logged a roughly 420% increase in…
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