Submitted by Georgeana Cook

Vaping, juuling, dabs or dabbing, are just a few of the words to explain how middle and high school-age students are now using tobacco and marijuana. Members of The D.R.E.A.M. Team / Drug-Related Education Awareness Mentors will be sponsoring a Q&A Town Hall Meeting Friday, May 10, 7-8:30 p.m. at the Community Center. All community members who are interested in knowing more about the language and data which accompany this significant increase in teen use are invited. The team has traveled to Florida and Washington D.C. to receive training on how to collect data and analyze trends in tobacco, marijuana and alcohol use among teens.

Over the past 30 years, nicotine cigarette use by young people has significantly declined, due in large part to strong anti-tobacco prevention messaging and increased understanding of the health risks of nicotine cigarette use. Unfortunately, in 2017, about 13 percent of eighth graders, 24 percent of 10th graders and nearly 28 percent of 12th graders at American schools reported vaping [using electronic cigarettes] in the past year, according to research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health.

All parents, families, educators, business owners, youth-serving organizations, volunteers; health, civic, faith leaders; and concerned community members are encouraged to attend.