205 W 5th Ave Ellensburg, WA 98926-2887
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Kittitas (pronounced 'KITT-i-tass') County is located in central Washington State. It spans from the lush forested Cascade Mountains to the upper Yakima River Valley plains and the Columbia River.
Kittitas County, WA - 11/10/2014 - The Kittitas County Public Health Department (KCPHD) does not endorse vaping, whether using a vaporizer or an electronic cigarette as a way to quit smoking. Electronic cigarettes or e-cigarettes have not been studied and most are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to the FDA, consumers currently do not know the potential risks of use or how much nicotine or other harmful chemicals are being inhaled during use.
E-cigarette companies are using marketing strategies identical to the tobacco companies. They use celebrity spokespeople, ads with attractive men and women, they sponsor sports and music events, and the products come in sweet flavors like cherry or cotton candy. Because the FDA does not regulate electronic cigarettes, the companies continue to advertise like tobacco companies previously marketed regular cigarettes to kids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), youth use of electronic cigarettes has tripled in the past three years. “Until the FDA fully regulates additional products like electronic cigarettes, the public health standpoint is that they are not considered cessation devices,” states Robin Read, Public Health Administrator for KCPHD. Anyone who is interested in quitting tobacco should contact the Washington State Tobacco Quit Line at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. For more information about electronic cigarettes visit http://www.fda.gov/TobaccoProducts/default.htm.
Kittitas County, from the Cascades to the Columbia, and online at http://www.co.kittitas.wa.us
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Contact: Kasey Knutson, Public Information Officer, 509-962-7515