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Blog Posts
Why Flavored Tobacco Bans Matter
Across the country, we are beginning to see flavored tobacco product bans in places such as California, Massachusetts, New York, and more. While these bans are often faced with backlash from many tobacco companies, they make a massive difference in reducing tobacco abuse, especially among teens. Here are three reasons why flavored tobacco bans are so important for youth:
Appealing flavor names and tastes attract younger consumers
Before teens even know what these flavored tobacco products taste like, they are drawn in by the flashy packaging and enticing flavor names. Beyond this, the candy-like flavors in tobacco products mask their unpleasant taste, making it easier to get addicted, especially for teens. Because of this, it is no surprise that e-cigarettes, also known as vapes, are the most commonly used tobacco product among U.S. youth according to the CDC.
The risks of menthol
Menthol is an extremely common flavor used in tobacco products like vapes to add a cooling and painkilling effect. However, this flavor has added danger as people who use menthol-flavored products tend to smoke more, have a harder time quitting, and inhale deeper when using the product. It is harder to feel the effects of menthol-flavored products on the body because of its soothing, minty flavor, but it is crucial to remember these tobacco products are just as bad as any other.
Flavored tobacco products can form lifelong addictions
Using flavored tobacco products such as vapes quickly became a habit. The recurring action of reaching for a vape and inhaling becomes an ingrained pleasure pattern for frequent users. This habit-building effect is even more dramatic among teens, whose brains are still developing. Their pleasure circuits operate at higher rates, making vaping feel even more enjoyable. The good news for anyone trying to quit is that there are increasingly new products being released to replace the habit of smoking or vaping, such as chewing gum, sucking on lozenges, or using drug-free flavor inhalers.
At Creation4Cessation, we are working diligently to ensure reduced abuse and reduced accessibility for tobacco products. As a youth-led organization, we recognize that these efforts often start with banning flavored tobacco products, and we hope to see more restrictions within this industry.
How can you get involved with Creation4Cessation?
If you are looking for a new way to express yourself as a youth leader, artist, or activist, Creation4Cessation is one of the best nonprofits to get involved with now! At C4C, we stand for nicotine cessation and neurodiversity awareness among youth through art by fundraising, hosting events, and bringing awareness on social media. Here are five ways you can get involved:
Start a Chapter
One of the best ways you can uphold the values C4C stands for is through starting a chapter at your school or in your community! We currently have multiple chapters across California, and we are always looking to expand to other parts of the world. Starting a chapter can call awareness to the needs of your area in relation to nicotine cessation and bring the resources and values of Creation4Cessation directly to you. Starting a chapter will also allow you to host impactful events and fundraisers to support our efforts.
Host Events
So far, C4C has held an art show and various workshops to call attention to the negative effects of nicotine for youth in California. With your help, we can continue to host more events to create tangible impact across the globe. Art contests, open mic nights, poetry readings, speeches, information nights, and more are excellent ways to provide creative spaces in your community while highlighting the importance of nicotine cessation.
Become a Blog Writer
We are currently looking for more blog writers to provide information related to the arts, youth advocacy, and updates on Creation4Cessation events. Through articles, we can share our message and our impact in a new format to reach a larger audience of people who may need resources or are interested in learning about us as a non-profit.
Tell a Friend
Maybe you do not have the means to support Creation4Cessation by starting a chapter or writing articles, but that does not mean that you cannot get involved. By simply telling a peer, friend, coworker, or colleague, you can help us reach more advocates and artists to participate in our events or get directly involved in our efforts.