Health

8 HE ALTH • Winter 2019 Central Mass. smoking cessation professionals are fighting the short- and long-term impact caused by the rise of e-cigarette use • By Grant Welker Vaping crisis Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey PHOTO/DREAMSTIME.COM T his year has been turbulent for the vaping industry nationwide: more than 2,000 have been sickened with a lung illness traced to vaping, and 42 have died. In Massachusetts, Gov. Charlie Baker put a four-month ban on vaping prod- ucts in September. That wasn't the only first-in-the-country step to take place in the state: the House and Senate have since passed bills banning all f lavored tobacco and adding a stiff new tax on e-cigarettes. Even Juul Labs in San Francisco, the leading maker of e-cigarettes, has stopped selling some of its f lavored products, including mint. Today's e-cigarette users can go one of two ways if they kick their vaping habit: Turn to cigarettes, which many previously or presently smoke, or give up nicotine altogether. Health experts are hopeful health dangers associated with e-cigarettes – and the public attention they've received – could provide an impetus for smokers to finally give up the habit. "I would hope that there would be some who were in the process of quit- ting, going from cigarettes to vaping, who could try another form of nico- tine replacement," said Dr. Jeffrey Scott, a pulmonologist with Worcester physician's group Reliant Medical Group. Scott has found optimism in chang- es like the decision in September by MassHealth, the state's program for Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program, to eliminate co- payments on products to help people quit smoking, including gum, patches and lozenges. With the policy change, members have no out-of-pocket costs for prod- ucts to help them quit smoking, includ- ing prescription medications and over- the-counter products including nico- tine replacement therapy such as Nicorette, as well as gum, patches, and lozenges. Some medications require a prescription, like Chantix, but also do not require a co-pay. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has increased its support for those calling its smokers' quitting helpline. After an initial screening and coach- ing session, smokers looking to quit now receive eight weeks' supplies of smoking cessation products, twice as long as before. A standing order for nicotine replacement products now allows people to access over-the-coun- ter products including gum and patch- es as covered through their insurance. "Any relief of those barriers is poten- tially very helpful," Scott said. Marc Hymovitz, the director of gov- ernment relations for Massachusetts for 30% 20% 10% 0 2017 2018 2019 Middle school High school 27.5% 10.5% Youth vaping National youth vaping rates have spiked in recent years among both high school and middle school students.

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