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About The skanner. (Portland, Or.) 1975-2014 | View Entire Issue (Nov. 26, 2014)
Health News Oregon Tops in Illegal Tobacco Sales to Minors N early one in three retailers in Mult- nomah County illegally sold tobacco to minors last summer, accord- ing to an annual report by the federal office that funds state prevention programs. In fact, Oregon far outpaced any other state in the illegal sale of tobacco to kids. That distinction could jeopardize the federal block grant for substance abuse treatment and prevention, which require statewide rates remain below 20 per- cent, officials told the ucts on the market have exploded, in kid-friendly flavors such as Gummy Bear and Captain Crunch, officials said. “Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, and young brains are particular- ly susceptible,’’ said Dr. Jennifer Vines, a family physician who is the coun- ty’s Deputy Health Officer. “We know our young peo- ple are an easy target.’’ She said even the youngest kids are at risk and calls to Poison Control have increased nationwide as small children have ingest- ed e-liquid with flavors like blackberry cobbler. “Right now this is com- ‘It could mean a huge portion of our treatment and prevention dollars being taken away if we don’t keep those rates down’ Multnomah County Board of Health on Tuesday, Nov. 25. The State has so far avoid- ed any funding cuts because retailers in other Oregon counties made fewer illegal sales, thereby offsetting the 31 percent reported in Mult- nomah County. The statewide rate was 22.5 per- cent in 2013, just inside the allowable 3-percent margin of error. Even then Oregon retail- ers were caught selling tobacco to minors at more than double the nationwide average of 9.9 percent, according to an analysis of sales data reported by the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. “What the number is tied to is our federal substance abuse and treatment block grant,” Oregon Health Authority’s Jeff Ruscoe told the Board on Tuesday. “Unfortunately that’s the majority of our treatment and prevention dollars for the state of Oregon for alco- hol and drug abuse. It could mean a huge portion of our treatment and prevention dollars being taken away if we don’t keep those rates down.” The warning comes as an increasing number of Ore- gon teens also report using nicotine via electronic ciga- rettes — which are unregulated at the federal, state and local level. E-ciga- rettes are delivery devices that heat up a liquid mix of nicotine that is then inhaled. The number of e-cig prod- pletely legal,’’ Vines told the board at a hearing Nov.13. “All of these prod- ucts are completely legal for anyone of any age.” Chair Deborah Kafoury PHOTO COURTESY NXNE COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER Submitted by Kate Willson Multnomah County Insurance Signups The North by Northeast Community Health Center is enrolling people for insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act. Enrollment coordinator Dolly England helps each client work through the forms, as she did the Bruce, above, who is coping with severe diabetes. The Center this year has been named as a recipient in the Willamette week Give!Guide, with a matching grant from legacy Health. Make a contribution at www.giveguide.com, and find out more about enrollment help at www.nxneclinic.org or by calling 503-287-4932. how to curb the use of e-cig- arettes by teens. Most states require ven- dors obtain a license to sell tobacco, a mechanism that allows the state to educate retailers and enforce laws. But not Oregon. Most states prohibit the use of e-ciga- rettes by minors. But not Oregon. Last year Rep. Andy Olson (R-Albany) intro- “We’re not talking about whether these are better for adults,” Chair Kafoury said during Tuesday’s briefing. “We’re talking about whether they’re good for kids.” Environmental Health Director Dr. Jae Douglas recommended the county ban vendors from selling e- cigarettes to minors and ban minors from using them. She also recommended expanding the county ban their use anywhere where cigarettes are banned under the Oregon Clean Air Act. The board has already banned their use in county buildings. Douglas also recommend- ed the county consider how to regulate the sale of all nicotine products. “You’ve given us a lot to think about,” Kafoury said. “Any policy we undertake as Multnomah County Commission really is con- tingent on support of all our jurisdictions. I look forward to our continued conversa- tions about what steps we should take and when we should take those.” ‘Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, and young brains are particularly susceptible’ last week directed the Health Department to pro- pose recommendations on how to curb the use of tobacco and e-cigarettes by minors. Health officials Tuesday addressed both how to better regulate tobacco sales to minors and duced HB 4073. It would have extended current tobacco laws to prohibit sale to and use of e-cigarettes by minors. 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