Flavored Tobacco Products Affect Kaua‘i Youth, Too!

In late July, Youth Council members on Kaua‘i came together to meet with Kaua‘i County Council members to voice their opinions about implementing a flavored tobacco ban for Kaua‘i County. Their message: “This isn’t just a national problem; flavored tobacco affects us here, too!” The youth scheduled meetings with four of the seven current council members separately. The youth started with a presentation about awareness of the dangers of flavored tobacco and Kaua‘i tobacco statistics, then concluded with personal stories and a Q&A with each council member.

One of the students shared with a council member that although it is currently prohibited for youth under the age of 21 to purchase tobacco products, it is not difficult to hang outside a store or gas station to ask an adult to purchase tobacco products for them; in fact, some adults who need extra cash have gone to the lengths of approaching teens to offer to buy vape products for the youth in exchange of keeping the change from their cash payment. These behaviors have only increased with the presence of numerous flavors, which we know can pique youth curiosity and increase youth initiation to tobacco products.

Another student mentioned that seeing patients struggle in respiratory treatment was enough to make them never want to try the product; however, their peers don’t get to see that side of the problem. 

Multiple youth described choosing not to use the restroom during schooltime and instead holding it all day to avoid unwanted confrontations regarding tobacco products. This was concerning for nearly every council member. One high school student mentioned that they only used the restroom during class time to avoid any uncomfortable situations that could occur when their school peers hang around the bathroom during recess. Another student mentioned that in 4th grade, more than a few of their peers were getting caught in school with these tobacco products, recalling that cotton candy was a popular flavor. 

In one of the meetings, a council member asked what type of students use tobacco products. The youth answered that flavored tobacco products are not used just by stereotypical students with low grades or poor attendance, but also by athletes and students with top grades. Flavored tobacco products can appeal to basically any student in school.

If you would like to learn more about the dangers of flavored tobacco products in our community, please click here. If you would like to help advocate for this policy on Kaua‘i, please contact Valerie Saiki, the Kaua‘i Community Coordinator: valerie@hiphi.org