Expert Uncovers E-Cigarette Dangers at MN LUNG FORCE Expo

As vaping is putting hundreds of young people across the country in the hospital, a leading tobacco control expert will address the e-cigarette epidemic on October 11 at the American Lung Association in Minnesota’s LUNG FORCE Expo.

Pat McKone, senior director of health promotions and policy, for the Lung Association will present on “The New Addiction: E-Cigarettes, JUUL and Other Nicotine Delivery Devices” during the LUNG FORCE Expo at the Minneapolis Airport Marriott. Healthcare professionals will have two opportunities to hear McKone’s presentation: at 10:00am in the Lung Disease Track or at 12:45pm in the Asthma Track.

“Teen e-cigarette use is an urgent issue here in Minnesota and across the nation. We are concerned about e-cigarettes creating a new generation addicted to harmful and deadly nicotine products,” said McKone. “It is critical to educate not only teens, but parents, school officials and healthcare professionals on the dangers of e-cigarettes. We hope this presentation will help spread this vital information to the public.”

The need to take action to protect youth from tobacco is more urgent than ever, with youth e-cigarette use reaching epidemic levels due to a 78 percent increase in high school e-cigarette use from 2017 to 2018, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey. This equals one million additional kids beginning to use e-cigarettes, placing their developing bodies and lungs at risk from the chemicals in e-cigarettes as well as a lifetime of addiction to a deadly product. This has caused the U.S. Surgeon General to declare e-cigarette use among young people an epidemic in an Advisory

issued in December 2018.

The LUNG FORCE Expo will educate health professionals, people who suffer from lung disease and caregivers about the latest trends, resources and research surrounding lung cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma and other respiratory diseases.

More information and registration are available on the LUNG FORCE Expo website.