E-cigarette use among Minnesota students on the rise

According to the Minnesota Department of Health, one in four Minnesota 11th graders reported using an e-cigarette in the previous 30 days, a 54% increase from the same survey in 2016. And the jump among 8th graders was even more significant, the department said, with 11% reporting vaping in the preceding 30 days, nearly double the 2016 figure.

"We should all be very alarmed by the increasing number of eighth graders who reported vaping, because we know that the earlier a person is exposed to nicotine, the greater their risk in terms of future brain development and addiction," Health Commissioner Jan Malcolm said in a statement.

In response, Walz directed his administration to launch an aggressive outreach campaign to schools as they struggle with vaping among students, and to come up with policy proposals for the 2020 Legislature to combat youth vaping.

"Vaping is a public health crisis for young Minnesotans, and it is critical that we act now to bring the rate down," Walz, a former high school teacher, said in a statement.

AP/ Steve Karnowski

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Minnesota now has 55 confirmed or probable cases of vaping-related severe lung injuries, the department said. Nationally, the toll has topped 800 with at least 14 deaths. Most of those who got sick vaped THC, the compound that gives marijuana its high, though some patients reported that they vaped only nicotine.

US vaping illness count jumps to 805, deaths rise to 12

Some legislative options that Walz's administration is already considering include raising the state's legal age for tobacco to 21; prohibiting internet sales of tobacco products, e-cigarettes and vaping products; prohibiting the sale of flavored nicotine and tobacco products because they appeal to youth; and giving more authority to the health department to act against youth vaping.

In a statement, Emily Myatt, Minnesota government relations director for American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, said, "ACS CAN is deeply concerned about Minnesota's dramatic increase in youth e-cigarette use and is pleased to see Gov. Walz urging action to address it. The state legislature should consider policies proven to reduce commercial tobacco use and make sure that policies regulate all commercial tobacco products including e-cigarettes."

Other states and communities have already taken steps to discourage vaping and conventional tobacco smoking among young people as concerns grow about the illness outbreak.

The Associated Press contributed to this report