Common Council discusses options for vaping regulation for underage kids
The Nome Common Council held a work session on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. before their regular meeting to discuss the issue of vaping in schools.
At the last Council meeting Nome-Beltz Middle High School Principal Teriscovkya Smith brought the issue to the Council’s attention claiming: “It’s an epidemic.”
The meeting began with recently elected council member Maggie Miller being sworn in by Mayor John Handeland.
Dr. Timothy Lemaire from Norton Sound Heath Corporation presented on vaping nicotine and THC, a chemical compound found in cannabis. He talked about the history, what’s currently known about the products made and the harmful side effects for youth. Lemaire said vaping was initially pitched by tobacco companies as a safe way to stop smoking, but that hasn’t proven to be true.
“You can put anything you want into the vapes, “Lemaire said. “It’s a wild, unregulated, not very scientific process.”
Especially with THC, Lemaire explained, the only regulation is to disclose the amount of THC, but there’s no limit to how much THC is put into the devices.
The risks of overdosing on nicotine can range, depending on the size of the child. A lethal dose of nicotine is 13 milligrams if they were to access the pod and drink the fluid. Other side effects of nicotine liquid ingestion include seizures followed by paralysis.
Lemaire said THC vapes increase the risk for lifelong cannabis use and can affect brain development. If someone were to overdose, they’d experience fast heart rate, low blook sugar and seizures. Motor vehicle accidents are also more likely when under the influence.
Vaping is also associated with lung disease because of the extra chemicals included in the device. Lemaire showed the council and public pictures of a healthy lungs and examples of damaged lungs.
Nicotine can impact teens differently as the brain is still developing. It can cause permanent changes like effects on memory and attention, and long-term effects to the lungs that aren’t fully known yet, Lemaire said.
Councilmember Mark Johnson asked Lemaire what was causing kids to become hospitalized from vaping. Lemaire said it was likely an overuse of the device in one sitting causing them anxiety, increased heart rate, lower blood pressure and in some cases they may pass out.
Laina Delgado from the American Lung Association, or ALA, called into the meeting from Anchorage to discuss what the ALA does for tobacco prevention in Alaska. “We know there are a lot of communities dealing with the exact same issue,” Delgado said. ALA has a partnership with NSHC for tobacco prevention and control. There are also programs and strategies that ALA uses in cooperation with school districts like Petersburg, Kenai and Anchorage. There are alternative programs for students caught with nicotine products so they aren’t suspended, as well as programs to help them quit.
Handeland thanked Delgado for calling in and proving information about ALA. He said Nome will benefit from the tools being developed by others and would love to be a part of it. He asked if they only work with schools or if there’s collaboration on municipal or state level. Delgado said ALA also works with municipalities and educating state representatives. The federal law for tobacco purchasing is 21 but Alaska is not compliant, Delgado explained, allowing anyone 19 or older to purchase the products.
“In January there’s a bill, SB 89, that’s going to the House to bring Alaska up to the federal age of 21,” Delgado said. ALA is working to increase representatives’ awareness so they can vote yes to the bill.
Handeland asked the public if they had questions or comments for the speakers. There were nine audience members, no one spoke up. Handeland said the fact that people came to the meeting show they’re interested and concerned.
The council moved on to discuss what they could do to regulate vaping devices for youth. City Manager Glenn Steckman said the Council has the power to ban use of nicotine devices and raise the purchasing age from 19 to 21. They could also talk to sellers like they did with liquor stores previously to identify “runners” who were supplying to underage kids.
“I don’t think this issue will be solved any one particular way,” Councilmember Sigvanna Tapqaq said.
Handeland asked about creating a sales tax for nicotine devices. Mark Johnson said he’s heard of this tax being instated before, specifically with the sale of cigarettes in Unalakleet.
The councilmembers agreed it was important to get the opinions of the school board and administrators, as well as to hear from students to better understand why the devices were so enticing.
Miller said she agrees to involve the schools, especially the kids, suggesting an anonymous survey to get more information from them while protecting identities if the kids were nervous about disclosing information.
Handeland concluded the session after an hour by stating this was informational, but the dialogue needs to continue with the inclusion of the school board, administration and the
ALA. “We should also have a legal memo outlining our options and opportunities with regards to regulation,” Handeland said.
In its regular meeting, Handeland asked for a joint meeting with the Nome School Board in two weeks to further discuss vaping and come to a resolution on the matter.