Tobacco
Tobacco use remains the single largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States. Cigarette smoking kills more than 480,000 Americans each year, with more than 41,000 of these deaths from exposure to secondhand smoke. In Washington State, tobacco kills about 8,300 people every year.
The only way to avoid the harmful effects of tobacco is to avoid using tobacco all together and avoid areas where you could be exposed to secondhand smoke. If you or someone you know currently uses tobacco, the best option is to quit in order to reduce the risk of developing a tobacco-related disease.
What is in a Cigarette:
There are approximately 600 ingredients in cigarettes. When burned, they create more than 7,000 chemicals. At least 69 of these chemicals are known to cause cancer, and many are poisonous.
Here are a few of the chemicals in cigarette smoke and other places they are found:
- Acetone – found in nail polish remover
- Acetic Acid – an ingredient in hair dye
- Ammonia – a common household cleaner
- Arsenic – used in rat poison
- Benzene – found in rubber cement
- Butane – used in lighter fluid
- Cadmium – active component in battery acid
- Carbon Monoxide – released in car exhaust fumes
- Formaldehyde – embalming fluid
- Hexamine – found in barbecue lighter fluid
- Lead – used in batteries
- Naphthalene – an ingredient in mothballs
- Methanol – a main component in rocket fuel * Nicotine – used as insecticide
- Nicotine – used as insecticide
- Tar – material for paving roads
- Toluene – used to manufacture paint (ALA)
Quitting Tobacco:
It’s never to late to quit tobacco. If you or someone you know is thinking about quitting, use these tools and resources listed below.
- Quitting Resources PDF – English | Quitting Resources PDF – Spanish
- Thinking about quitting
- Preparing to quit
- Quitting
- Sticking with quitting
Washington State Quit Lines:
- English | 1-800-QUI-TNOW | 1-800-784-8669
- Spanish | 1-877-2NO-FUME | 1-877-266-3863
- Deaf & Hard of Hearing | 1-877-777-6534
- Getting Help to Quit Tobacco
Vaping
Vaping is the act of inhaling vapor from a device. The device is filled with vape liquid, it heats up, the liquid is vaporized into millions of tiny droplets, and then inhaled.
Commonly perceived as a healthier or safer option than traditional cigarettes, there are unique health risks associated with vaping devices and research is currently being performed to look at the potential long-term effects of vaping device use.
E-cigarette/vapor product use is now considered an epidemic by the U.S. Surgeon General and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As cigarette use declines, new tobacco products, and electronic cigarette/vapor products, are being introduced and marketed, and thus contributing to the overall youth nicotine use rate. More than four times as many youth (10th-graders) report using vapor products than cigarettes.
Types of Vaping Devices:
- E-Cigarette: This first generation of vaping devices often has a similar appearance to that of a cigarette. They come in both disposable and rechargeable forms. They can emit a light that resembles the burning of tobacco when the user puffs from it. They also tend to be the least expensive of the vaping devices.
- Vape or vaporizer pens: The second generation of vaping devices resembles the shape of a pen and comes in a variety of sizes and colors. Like e-cigarettes, there are disposable and rechargeable devices and most are refillable.
- Mechanical Modified Nicotine Delivery Systems (MODs): MODs are larger in shape and size. MODs consist of many customizable parts that allow users to individualize the device. MODs are rechargeable or have replaceable batteries and typically hold more liquid for vaping. MODs are the most expensive type of device with some setups costing hundreds of dollars.
What is in the Liquid:
- The liquid, know as e-liquid, e-juice, nic- juice, smoke juice, smoke oil, or vape juice, comes in a variety of flavors (over 7,000) that can appeal to adults and youth alike. This liquid typically contains nicotine as well as many other chemicals that may be dangerous when atomized. But it’s not flavored air.
- The liquid solution used in vaping devices is unregulated. There are no labeling requirements concerning any nicotine content and there are no packaging requirements to protect children from opening containers of the product. The liquid solution is often sold in bright and colorful packaging and is available in many flavors that appeal to children.
*All liquid nicotine products should be stored out of reach of children. If you suspect a person has been exposed to liquid nicotine, call the Washington Poison Center at 1.800.222.1222 or seek medical help immediately.
- Smoking in Public Places (RCW 70.160): Passed in 2005, the SIPP law requires every local public health district to enforce the law and educate businesses and employers about the law so they know how to comply with it.
- Tobacco and Vapor 21 Law Information | English |
- Tobacco and Vapor 21 Law | Frequently Asked Questions
- Summary of Washington State and Federal Vapor Product Regulations (ESSB 6328):Concerning youth vapor product substance use prevention, and vapor product regulation, without permitting a tax on the sale or production of vapor products.
- Implementation of ESSB 6328 | Frequently Asked Questions
- Implementación de ESSB 6328 | Preguntas Frecuentes
- Grant County Health District Ordinance 2014-2: In effect on January 1, 2015. Rules and regulations of the GCHD restricting the sale, marketing, use, and availability of electronic vapor devices and e-liquid.
- Moses Lake City Parks
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- Explanatory Letter | English
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- Do You Sell Tobacco or Vapor Products? | English
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- Don't Sell Tobacco or Vapor Products to Youth | English
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- Poster
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- Register stickers
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- Regulation flyers
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- Age verification calendar
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- Register signage
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- Instruction booklet
Signage
Smoke-Free Environments Smoke- and tobacco-free environments help protect individuals from secondhand and thirdhand smoke. They also make it easier for people to quit and support those who have quit by eliminating potential triggers.
- Smoke-Free Housing
- Tobacco-Free Colleges
- Tobacco-Free Workplaces
- Tobacco-Free Parks
Report a Violation
Report a violation if you see:
- Secondhand smoke exposure near you
- Illegal underage sales
- Smoking/vaping in public places or the workplace
- If you believe the law is being violated
To submit a complaint against a business or workplace you believe is violating the SIPP law or the local vaping ordinance, call us at 509-766-7960
Only the police can enforce the law when an individual person smokes in violation of it. To report an individual who is violating the law, call your local police department.
Resource Library:
- The American Lung Association in partnership with the Prevention Research Center of West Virginia University, developed INDEPTH, a free education program to provide schools and communities an alternative to suspension or citation that helps address the teen vaping problem in a more supportive way.
- Stanford Medicine developed a free e-cigarette curriculum to provide teachers, parents, and other educators with factual information. The curriculum covers basic facts of e-cigarettes and the harms they cause; the content of e-cigarette aerosols; strategies of manufacturers and sellers of e-cigarettes to increase use among adolescents, such as deceptive and creative marketing strategies; skills to refuse experimentation and use of e-cigarettes; thirdhand smoke.
- The Real Cost of Vaping: Lesson and Research Activity for Grades 9-12 | FDA
- Flavors Hook Kids
- What to look for: Vaping & Marijuana Product Handout
- What to look for: Vaping & Marijuana Product Handout (Spanish)
- Talk with Your Teen About E-cigarettes: A Tip Sheet for Parents | Surgeon General
- What You Need to Know And How to Talk With Your Kids About Vaping | The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids
- Tips From Teachers: How to talk to your kids about vaping | Public Health Insider
Questions? Please call GCHD at 509-766-7960