{"id":32197,"date":"2019-12-12T10:45:52","date_gmt":"2019-12-12T16:45:52","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/?p=32197"},"modified":"2019-12-12T17:01:26","modified_gmt":"2019-12-12T23:01:26","slug":"oklahomas-vaping-rules-may-tighten-as-scrutiny-persists","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/2019\/12\/12\/oklahomas-vaping-rules-may-tighten-as-scrutiny-persists\/","title":{"rendered":"Oklahoma\u2019s vaping rules may tighten as scrutiny persists"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_32201\"  class=\"wp-caption module image aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 1920px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-large wp-image-32201\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1108-1920x1280.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1280\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1108-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1108-672x448.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1108-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1108-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1108-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1108-620x413.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1108-1620x1080.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Jackie Fortier \/ StateImpact Oklahoma<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Dr. Alayna Tackett demonstrates one of the devices she uses to measure the health effects of vaping.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\"><a href=\"https:\/\/annals.org\/aim\/article-abstract\/2698112\/prevalence-distribution-e-cigarette-use-among-u-s-adults-behavioral\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Some 10.8 million Americans<\/a> had started vaping as of last year, according to a government study. The surge has been driven to a great degree by the immense success of Juul, by far the most popular vaping product. Even though it\u2019s illegal for people under 18 to purchase e-cigarettes or vaping products, vaping by teenagers also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.npr.org\/sections\/health-shots\/2019\/11\/06\/776397270\/more-teens-than-ever-are-vaping-heres-what-we-know-about-their-habits\">hit a record high<\/a> this year.\u00a0<!--more--><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI\u2019d like to see stronger retail license laws, I think that\u2019s a really big foundation,\u201d said Jordan Endicott, advocacy consultant for the American Heart Association in Oklahoma.<\/p><p><iframe loading=\"lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/player.simplecast.com\/62851a38-d7d6-474b-b8d1-a0fa3b65d988?dark=false\" width=\"100%\" height=\"200px\" frameborder=\"no\" scrolling=\"no\" seamless=\"\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cIf you\u2019re going to be selling addictive products there should be some minimum standards in terms of oversight and making sure that they aren\u2019t selling to kids,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Endicott would like to see Oklahoma legislators require vape shops to be licensed and pay an annual fee, similar to tobacco retailers. At least <a href=\"https:\/\/truthinitiative.org\/research-resources\/smoking-region\/tobacco-use-oklahoma-2019\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">14 states have this requirement<\/a>. A license would allow state government officials to keep track of which businesses sell vaping products and inspect them for compliance.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Endicott also says that tightening Oklahoma\u2019s clean indoor air ordinances would help decrease smoking and vaping rates in the state.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_32202\"  class=\"wp-caption module image aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 672px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32202\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1113-672x420.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"672\" height=\"420\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1113-672x420.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1113-1920x1200.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1113-768x480.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1113-150x94.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1113-300x188.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1113-620x388.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1113-1727x1080.jpg 1727w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Jackie Fortier \/ StateImpact Oklahoma<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jordan Endicott, with the American Heart Association, says that the state should tighten indoor air regulations in Oklahoma.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Oklahoma House Speaker Pro Tempore Harold Wright agrees.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">At an interim study on second-hand smoke exposure in October, Wright outlined legislation he filed that would make it illegal to smoke or vape at in-home daycare centers when children aren\u2019t present, and get rid of smoking and vaping in bars altogether.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cI think a more clean air environment will make things better for people in Oklahoma,\u201d Wright said. \u201cIt would save lives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Also speaking at the hearing was Jennifer Burton, president of Vaping Advocates of Oklahoma, a trade association.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Burton said small businesses and their rights to what some see as a smoking cessation tool are being trampled under Wright\u2019s bill.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe respectfully request that you reconsider the language of the bill that would penalize people who have made a switch from smoking to a less harmful alternative,\u201d Burton told the lawmakers.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Wright\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.oklegislature.gov\/BillInfo.aspx?Bill=hb2288&Session=1900\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">bill is still alive<\/a> and will likely come up when the legislature convenes in February.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Meanwhile, researchers like Dr. Alayna Tackett are trying to provide more answers about the health effects of vaping.\u00a0 As part of her study at the Oklahoma Tobacco Research Center in Oklahoma City, participants will do various breathing tests both before and after they vape in a controlled setting.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_32203\"  class=\"wp-caption module image aligncenter\" style=\"max-width: 672px;\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-medium wp-image-32203\" src=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1095-672x448.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"672\" height=\"448\" srcset=\"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1095-672x448.jpg 672w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1095-1920x1280.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1095-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1095-150x100.jpg 150w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1095-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1095-620x413.jpg 620w, https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/files\/2019\/12\/IMG_1095-1620x1080.jpg 1620w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 672px) 100vw, 672px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Jackie Fortier \/ StateImpact Oklahoma<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Participants in Tackett&#8217;s study will blow into the handheld device before and after they vape to measure its effects on their respiratory system.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe know very little about how e-cigarettes affect the respiratory airways,\u201d she said. \u201cThis will be one of the first studies in the country to look at the respiratory effects to provide some preliminary effects.\u201d<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The study will include 100 people who vape and 50 non-users. Respiratory assessment tests will be conducted on participants to determine airway inflammation, airway reactivity, and pulmonary function. Current users will also bring their vaping devices to the lab and vape for half an hour while Tackett and her team monitor them.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">\u201cWe\u2019re using what\u2019s called puff topography, so it\u2019s a little machine that we\u2019ll connect their e-cigarette device, and that runs directly into our computer, so we can see how many puffs they are taking and during each puff how much aerosol they are inhaling,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">Tackett hopes to get preliminary results from the study in about a year. Researchers like Tackett are focusing on the long-term health effects while nationally, the attention on vaping products has increased.<\/p>\n<p dir=\"ltr\">The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/tobacco\/basic_information\/e-cigarettes\/severe-lung-disease\/need-to-know\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">warned people<\/a> to stop vaping until public health experts can find the cause of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/interactive\/2019\/health\/vaping-illness-tracker.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">more than two thousand cases<\/a> of lung injuries and 48 vaping related deaths nationwide.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A push toward a healthier state by the governor may mean more vaping laws.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":199,"featured_media":32201,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"page-noFeature.php","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[23],"tags":[794,1075,138,1184],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32197"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/199"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=32197"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32197\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":32209,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/32197\/revisions\/32209"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/32201"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=32197"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=32197"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/stateimpact.npr.org\/oklahoma\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=32197"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}