UT Tyler Examines Teen Vaping Crisis in E TX

TYLER — On Monday, the University of Texas at Tyler said that the Fisch College of Pharmacy is conducting a community outreach program looking at vaping among East Texas teenagers. As of February, there have been just shy of 3,000 cases of EVALI (E-cigarette or Vaping product use Associated Lung Injury), and almost 300 cases in Texas.

Dr. Justin Reinert, UT Tyler clinical assistant professor and University project co-lead says, “It’s imperative that we address this in a comprehensive and unified effort, which is why we’re so grateful and excited to be partnering with colleagues from the School of Community and Rural Health at UT Health Science Center.” With initial surveys and educational in-services delivered to participating school districts, Reinert and other program leaders within the college discovered what nicotine products high school students are using. The team currently has reached about 650 high school students in Smith and Van Zandt Counties. Two more school districts in Cherokee and Rains Counties will also participate. An estimated 27 percent of high school students nationwide are using tobacco of any kind, and nearly 21 percent utilize some type of Electronic Nicotine Delivery System, or ENDS. Reinert said preliminary data shows the rate of use is alarmingly high among East Texas teens, at 41.7 percent, while 77.8 percent are utilizing ENDS. Phase II is planned to launch fall 2020.