TF-GOW

TF GOW wants schools and parents to know about vaping and nicotine pouches

By Press Release
Oct 1, 2024, 7:05am

Press Release:

With students back in school this month, public health leaders from Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans, and Wyoming counties (TF-GOW) say it's important to be aware of the risks of vaping, as well as a new nicotine product called nicotine pouches. Many users say they’re a safer way to use nicotine, but that is not the case.
“We’ve been working with schools and communities the last several years cracking down on vaping, but there’s another addictive nicotine product gaining popularity among teens: oral nicotine pouches,” says Brittany Bozzer, Reality Check Youth Outreach Coordinator for Tobacco-Free GOW.
According to Bozzer, the pouches are smokeless, and teens tuck them into their upper lips—making them harder to detect. They are sold in small containers under different brand names, including Zyn, Velo, Rogue, and On!, and come in a variety of youth-friendly flavors including mint, fruit, menthol, coffee, and cinnamon.
How much nicotine is in oral nicotine pouches?
Nicotine concentrations differ across oral nicotine brands. In the United States.
Zyn (the most popular brand) is sold in 3 and 6 mg.
Velo is sold in 2,4 and 7mg.
On! is sold in 1.5, 2, 3.5, 4 and 8mg.
On! Plus offers nicotine strengths of 6, 9 and 12mg.
Youth can get nicotine pouches online that contain up to 17mg per pouch.
2024 Findings on Youth Tobacco Use: Youth vaping less
In September 2024, the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released data from the 2024 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS) on e-cigarette and nicotine pouch use among U.S. youth: “Notes from the Field: E-cigarette and Nicotine Pouch Use Among Middle and High School Students—United States, 2024.”
Findings showed that there was a significant drop in the number of U.S. middle and high school students who reported current (past 30 days) e-cigarette use – a decrease from 2.13 million (7.7%) youth in 2023 to 1.63 million (5.9%) youth in 2024.
Evidence shows that as e-cigarette products have faced federal flavor restrictions recently, high school students are vaping less. But experts at Tobacco-Free GOW are concerned that as kids move away from vapes, they may move toward nicotine pouches because they have appealing
flavors.
“My tobacco control colleagues across New York State and I have seen different kinds of tobacco and nicotine products rise in popularity all the time, but we’ve learned over the years what works,” says Bozzer. “We're very concerned that the industry continues to find new products, new ways to addict our kids, and we’ll keep focusing on Zyn as well as youth vaping.”
More on nicotine pouches
They are pillow-like pouches that deliver nicotine directly into the bloodstream through the mouth's membrane lining. Created in 2014 by the company Swedish Match.
In addition to being perceived as a safer, and therefore, "healthier" addiction than vaping, nicotine pouches directly appeal to children and young people for a few other reasons.
Like JUUL pods, nicotine pouches are sold in a variety of "fun" flavors such as peppermint, cinnamon, coffee, and citrus-which makes them pleasant to use.
Social media sites like TikTok feature "Zynfluencers," whose content mainly consists of themselves using and promoting the pouches. This is concerning, especially considering 47.4% of all TikTok users in 2024 are under 30 years old.
Harms of Nicotine Pouches and Vapes
Nicotine can harm brain development which continues until about age 25.
Youth can start showing signs of nicotine addiction quickly, sometimes before the start of regular or daily use.
Using nicotine during adolescence can harm the parts of the brain that control attention, learning, mood, and impulse control.
Adolescents who use nicotine may be at increased risk for future addiction to other drugs.
Help for quitting: DropTheVape and Vaping Conversation Guide from the American Lung Association (ALA) DropTheVape is a free text-based youth and young adult vaping cessation service for smokers aged 13-24 provided by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH). The service is evidence-based and was developed by the Truth Initiative® with input from young people who wanted to quit vaping.
This program makes it easier to stop. Any New York State resident in the targeted age bracket can text “DropTheVape” to 88709. Enrollees receive interactive daily text messages tailored to their sign-up date or their target quit date. Messages include motivation, tips, coping strategies, and exercise to help build their belief that they CAN quit.
The American Lung Association (ALA) also has resources for talking to kids about vaping, including a conversation guide and a campaign available at https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/helping-teens-quit/talk-about-vaping/conversation-guide.

Tobacco-Free GOW staff attends Batavia Downs employee health fair to help educate people

By Press Release
Sep 28, 2024, 7:15am

Julie Calvert and Brittany Bozzer, team members of Tobacco-Free GOW, share information and resources on the impacts of tobacco use and how to get support with quitting.
Submitted photo.

Press Release:

Batavia Downs held its annual Employee Health Fair yesterday. Staff from Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties (TF-GOW) answered questions and provided educational materials about the dangers of vaping and tobacco use.
“Attending employee health fairs like this is the best way for us to reach community members and help improve their heath,” said Julie Calvert, community engagement coordinator for Tobacco-Free GOW. “We can address concerns people have about smoking, about their kids vaping and help them get the information, resources and support they need.”
The health fair gave the TF-GOW team the opportunity to connect with their Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center colleagues from the Department of Indigenous Cancer Health.
Indigenous communities face some of the greatest cancer health disparities, higher mortality rates and persistent challenges in health equity. Together, their goal is to reduce the impact of cancer.
The New York State Smokers' Quitline is a confidential service for all New York State residents who wish to overcome dependence on commercial tobacco products, including e-cigarettes.
Free offerings include individualized coaching and assistance with quit-planning from highly trained tobacco treatment specialists, text and online chat support and free shipping of stop-smoking medications such as nicotine patches, nicotine lozenges or nicotine gum for those 18 and older.
Residents of all ages may contact the Quitline for support and educational materials. In addition, the Quitline encourages teens and young adults (ages 13-24) to text “DROPTHEVAPE” to 88709 to join “This Is Quitting,” a free texting support program for help with quitting vaping.
For more information, text QUITNOW to 333888 or call 1-866-NY-QUITS (1-866-697-8487) seven days a week, beginning at 9 a.m.

Members of Tobacco-Free GOW and the Department of Indigenous Cancer Health, both programs of Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, share information on cancer screening, as well as how to live a tobacco-free life.
Submitted photo.

GOW youth coordinator attends national tobacco-control conference

By Billie Owens
Sep 7, 2019, 6:00am

Submitted photo and press release:

Brittany Bozzer got a back-to-school experience last week that was positively inspiring.

The youth coordinator for Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties (TF-GOW) took a seat at The National Conference on Tobacco or Health (NCTOH 2019) held Aug. 27-29 in Minneapolis, Minn.

She says it was an energizing experience that brought her new insights in education, science and policy making.

NCTOH, one of the largest, long-standing gatherings of the United States tobacco-control movement, attracts a diverse set of public health professionals and scientists to share and learn about best practices and policies to reduce tobacco use — the leading preventable cause of disease and death in the United States.

Bozzer spent three days learning, networking and collaborating with public health colleagues from across New York State and the United States.

She attended sessions on tobacco-control issues including:

Communications and Media to educate and promote;
Evaluation and Surveillance of tobacco use among different populations;
Health Equity around tobacco use;
Nicotine and the Science of Addiction;
Non-Cigarette Tobacco and Nicotine Products;
Tobacco Product Regulation;
Tobacco Control Policies and Legal Issues;
Tobacco Industry Current Strategies and History;
Youth and Young Adult Advocacy and In-school Prevention;
Tobacco Control Skill Building Workshops.

Two internationally renowned experts from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center in Buffalo, doctors Andrew Hyland and Maciej Goniewicz, were among the conference panelists for a presentation titled "What Do We Know About E-Cigarette Use and Toxicity.”

They talked about the impacts of vaping, raising evidence-based awareness in the wake of recent mysterious and potentially deadly lung illnesses that appear to be linked to vaping.

Hyland, Goniewicz, as well as additional researchers from Roswell Park, provide the science-based evidence that advances the work that Bozzer does to reduce tobacco use in communities throughout Genesee, Orleans and Wyoming counties.

About Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming

Tobacco-Free Genesee, Orleans, Wyoming is funded through the New York State Department of Health, Bureau of Tobacco Control, and is a part of Tobacco-Free Western New York, managed by Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center. Learn more at tobaccofreewny.com.

(Photo: Brittany Bozzer is on the far right. On the far left is Jonathan Chaffee, youth coordinator of Tobacco-Free Chautauqua, Cattaraugus and Allegany counties (TF-CCA); then Gretchen Galley, PR and media manager, Tobacco-Free Western New York; and third from left is Ken Dahlgren, community engagement coordinator, TF-CCA.)

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