Health officer: Vaping harms children

One in 10 U.S. high school students uses e-cigarettes.

Dr. Jennifer Bales, the health officer for Wayne County, highlighted the dangers that e-cigarettes and vaping pose during the Dec. 17 meeting of the county’s health board. She said dangers of smoking, such as risk of stroke, heart disease, lung disease and cancer, are well-known, but that’s not the case with e-cigarettes.

“I think the dangers of e-cigarette use and vaping are less widely known, but it is especially harmful to our children,” Bales said. “It’s been shown to harm brain development; have a negative impact on learning, memory, attention; and increases the rate of future addiction.”

Tobacco and vaping prevention and cessation is a key element in Wayne County’s Health First Indiana plan. The health department has contracted with multiple agencies to address the issue locally and is working to create a tobacco coalition, headed by the local Purdue Extension, which has hired a community coordinator to address smoking. The coalition plans to promote the Catch My Breath prevention program for middle and high school students. 

Bales said the department’s goal is to reduce smoking by 3% by 2027. Nearly a quarter of Wayne County adults smoke, Bales said, outpacing the 14% national average and 16% Indiana average. In general, smoking numbers are declining but e-cigarette use is rising.

“I think it’s important to keep in the forefront of what we’re doing and on people’s minds,” she said.

Success story

Director Dan Burk shared a local Health First Indiana success story from Reid Health’s community health team.

The team attended Gleaners food bank distributions to provide attendees information about food availability, including access to fresh local food at the Richmond Farmers Market. Reid staff interacted with 467 families Oct. 28, and the Nov. 9 farmers market set a new high of distributing $2,824 in SNAP tokens to customers, with $2,473 of that ending up with vendors.

Burk said success stories are shared statewide.

Other issues

• Burk introduced family nurse practitioner Poshia Slusher to the board. Slusher said she is excited to join the health department and specifically became a nurse practitioner to serve the population that frequents the health department.
• The board approved a dress code that prevents workers in the department clinic from wearing jeans and T-shirts. Essentially, it requires scrubs and khaki-type slacks to reflect a professional image in the clinic.
• The board also approved a procedure for staff who receive money from customers.
• Board members approved requesting the reappointment of Mark Broeker to the board. Richmond Mayor Ron Oler then sent a letter to Wayne County’s commissioners supporting Broeker’s reappointment, and commissioners officially reappointed him Dec. 18.
• The department began a billboard campaign Dec. 12 with billboards on Sheridan Street, Richmond Avenue and North West Fifth Street. One of the billboards is in Spanish. Burk will monitor website and appointment numbers to gauge the billboards’ effectiveness spreading the department’s message.
• Bales said the county’s COVID-19 rate has declined since a late-summer spike; however, she expects an influenza surge.
• A former contract worker improperly entered the health department into an unnecessary contract for $60,000 in equipment and $38,000 in testing. The department is working to leave the contract without losing all of the money.
• The board moved its 2025 meetings to noon the second Tuesday of each month.