Cristin McCarthy Vahey

CT has successfully fought the battle against smoking – youth smoking rates are way down. But, just over the past three years, high school aged vaping rates have DOUBLED.

Advertisements like these are part of the reason why.

Today at the state Legislative Office Building, I joined Fairfielder Marc Donald, the new Executive Director of RYASAP; the Commission on Women, Children and Seniors; the Commission on Equity and Opportunity; the CT Prevention Network and the Match Coalition; legislators; prevention experts; parents and advocates to talk about the real dangers of youth vaping. Some of the information shared this morning can be found here.

We must combat this growing epidemic. One of the many legislative proposals moving forward is HB 7200 – An Act Prohibiting The Sale Of Cigarettes, Tobacco Products, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems And Vapor Products To Persons Under Age Twenty-One – This bill will raise the age of tobacco purchase for vaping and all tobacco products.

If you are interested in joining me in Hartford to testify on this bill, particularly if you are a young person or parent, please reach out to me at cristin.mccarthyvahey@cga.ct.gov. You can also submit testimony to phtestimony@cga.ct.gov, just refer to HB 7200 in the subject line.

Together we can prevent another generation from becoming addicted to nicotine.