Tobacco use is the number-one cause of preventable death and disease in Oregon (OHA Tobacco Facts, 2018). E-cigarette use among 11th graders increased three-fold from 2013-2015, from 5% to 17%, with the first decline in e-cigarette use among Oregon youth see in 2017 (OHA Tobacco Facts, 2018). The percentage of 11th-grade students who report vaping or using e-cigarettes was 22.6% in Crook County (OR Healthy Teens Survey, 2019), 29.4% in Deschutes County (OR Student Wellness Survey, 2018), and 16.6% in Jefferson County (OR Student Wellness, 2015). As of November 26, 2019, 19 cases of vaping related illnesses have been reported in Oregon, 2 of which resulted in death. Some Oregon cases do involve individuals under the age of 18 and include a mix of cannabis-only vaping, nicotine-only vaping, and a combination of both (OHA, 2019).
Students from Crook and Jefferson counties presented to their city and county officials.
As a result, Crook County is now considering a local Tobacco Retail Licensing ordinance.