SAINT PAUL, MINNESOTA — Today, House DFL lawmakers introduced a new comprehensive plan to prevent youth tobacco use.
In 2017, the number of young Minnesotans using tobacco rose for the first time in 17 years due to a surge in e-cigarette use. Since then, the crisis has only gotten worse. According to the 2019 Minnesota Student Survey, 26.4 percent of Minnesota 11th graders reported using an e-cigarette in the past 30 days. That represents a 54 percent increase from the 2016 survey. Usage rates also climbed among 8th and 9th graders.
“Minnesota has been a leader at curbing youth tobacco use and access to tobacco, and we’ve seen incredible results,” said Rep. Laurie Halverson (DFL – Eagan). “Unfortunately, we’re starting to lose ground to the tobacco companies. It’s time to treat e-cigarettes like the serious health threat they are. As a parent and a legislator, I’m committed to doing all I can to keep young Minnesotans safe and healthy.” Continue reading “House DFL Lawmakers Announce New Comprehensive Plan to Prevent Youth Tobacco Use”