Choose a recent civic, national, or world event and briefly describe your thoughts about it.
“I just can’t catch my breath,” they said. After weeks of training, the warm-up laps shouldn’t have felt so difficult. Eventually, they told our coach that they were leaving because of schoolwork or family obligations. The real reason though, was their struggle with substance abuse.
I have competed on my high school’s track team for 4 years. Over this time, numerous members have abandoned the sport because of vaping. Even one of our National All-American athletes quit running because his lungs became too weak to sustain competing for another season. Nearly a third of Vermont teenagers vape, and I have witnessed the consequences among my teammates.
On March 28th, 2024, S.18 was delivered to the Vermont Governor after being passed in the House and Senate. This is an act which imposes stricter laws on tobacco product distributors and offers young tobacco-users the opportunity for change. This bill is valuable because it addresses both sellers and users. Distributors would not be allowed to sell tobacco products below wholesale price, and users under age 21 who are caught with vaping paraphernalia could attend a help session, instead of paying a fine.
Furthermore, two of the most significant components of the bill would come into effect throughout next year. In January 2025, any flavored tobacco substitute or e-liquid sale would be disallowed in the state of Vermont. Many young people think that the word “substitute” means that the product is better for them than traditional nicotine sources. In reality, these products often contain chemicals that are just as harmful, infesting their respiratory systems. While many concerns involve the long-term effects of these chemicals, short-term risks also exist, such as struggling to get oxygen during athletic activity.
The second aspect of this bill targets all menthol-flavored tobacco products. Given the high youth quit rates in other U.S. regions that have banned flavored tobacco products, this is a promising way to further reduce the use of these substances. This act acknowledges the influence that flavor has on addiction, particularly in teenagers.
Critiques of this bill focus on pecuniary setbacks. The sales tax on tobacco products is particularly profitable. With these flavored products being banned, the 2025 and 2026 fiscal years combined are anticipated to endure a governmental loss of approximately $14 million. While this seems costly, the $14 million pales in comparison to the yearly amount that Vermont spends to treat people with tobacco-related issues: $400 million. If saving the lungs of young people was not enough reason, herein lies economic justification for enacting S.18. This new bill is a necessary step for preserving the health of Vermont teenagers.
Indeed, other changes must be implemented in the future. For instance, fines for distributors violating laws of sale should steadily increase so that expectations including ID checks grow stricter. Nonetheless, S.18* makes it harder to access vapes, and easier to access cessation programs, with the hope that more teenagers quit vape, rather than quitting their sport.
*Note: S.18 passed the House and Senate but Governor Scott vetoed the bill in early April.