An online presentation; “The Facts of Vaping”

Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare
Press Release
August 18, 2020

Community Conversations on August 31 & September 10

August 17, Yulee, FL — At first, vaping seemed like a healthier alternative to smoking. But as time has gone on, the dangers of vaping continue to multiply. The myths and facts about vaping are the topics of the next Community Conversation sponsored by Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare. Vaping: Out of the Cloud, A Vaping Epidemic will be offered in two virtual sessions on August 31 at Noon and again on September 10 at 6 pm. Jen Emmons and Julie Collins from CivCom/Tobacco Free Nassau will be the guest speakers.

Research shows that people who vape are actually more likely to start smoking cigarettes, especially among teens. Vapes with nicotine can expose users to the same amount of nicotine as a conventional cigarette, according to US Health and Human Services. And, while not all vapes include nicotine, all can include toxic metal particles, formaldehyde, and other harmful chemicals.

Jennifer Emmons is a Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist, CTTS, who has focused in Tobacco Prevention since 2008. She started her anti-tobacco work with Area Health Education Centers (AHEC) and the Florida Department of Health. For more than ten years, she facilitated at work and community Quit Smoking Now classes in Nassau and Northeast Florida. During that time, she also facilitated Citation classes with youth who were caught using tobacco and worked with Students Working Against Tobacco on policy change. Jennifer joined CivCom, in 2015 as Tobacco Program Manager for Tobacco Free Nassau and has continued policy work with a primary focus on educating community members on the dangers of vaping/tobacco use and keeping our youth from initiating a lifetime of addiction.
Julie Duncan has been with CivCom since 2015, managing the Student’s Working Against Tobacco (SWAT) program. Prior to this Julie served in tobacco prevention positions with the Florida Department of Health and the American Lung Association. As part of Julie’s role as Youth Programs Manager, Julie educates adults and youth about the ever-changing teen vaping epidemic. Julie is a graduate of the University of Florida, with her B.S. in Health Education, and is working towards her Master’s in Communication Management from the University of North Florida. Julie strives to create the next tobacco-free generation by educating and empowering Northeast Florida youth to take a stand against big tobacco companies.
For more information about the series, or to register for the session, visit https://www.spbh.org/being-well-starting-now/.

About Starting Point
Starting Point Behavioral Healthcare provides mental health and substance abuse treatment services to children, teens and adults in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia. The non-profit agency serves more than 3,900 individuals each year and has been serving the region for more than 25 years. Starting Point is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). For more information, visit spbh.org.