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Virtual Vaping Summit Aims to Educate Mississippians on Dangers
JACKSON, Miss. – Enrich MS, a local nonprofit organization and youth education program, is hosting a Virtual Vaping Summit on Thursday, February 4, 2021, online. You can find information about the summit and register at EnrichMS.org/SUMMIT. The event begins at 9am. The purpose of the summit is to increase awareness and share resources that address the vaping epidemic. The event is free and open to the public.
(LAST YEAR) Nationwide, there have been 2,807 hospitalized cases of vaping-related lung illness reported from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and two U.S. territories (Puerto Rico and U.S. Virgin Islands). Sixty-eight deaths have been reported from 27 states and the District of Columbia.
(LAST YEAR) In Mississippi, there have been 11 cases reported – nine of which were hospitalized – and one death from vaping-related lung illness.
The 2021 Virtual Vaping Summit will feature discussions with experts in the field such as Thomas Payne, PhD; Robert McMillen, PhD, Mississippi State University; Dr. Dan Edney, Addiction Specialist; Rankin County School District Leadership; Enrich MS youth leadership team; and other community leaders.
“Vaping has become a widespread concern that really crosses into the roles and responsibilities of many organizations and agencies This is a great opportunity to meet with other partners in this arena to face this challenge head on,” said Dr. Dobbs.
“I think I speak on behalf of us all when I say that the most alarming part of this epidemic is that it’s starting with our kids. It is absolutely terrifying that more than 21 percent of high schoolers and almost 10 percent of middle schoolers vape regularly,” he said.
Lawmakers, parents, school administrators and students are encouraged to register for this virtual event, and breakout sessions have been designed specifically for these groups.
Rhonda Shirley from the Partnership for a Healthy Mississippi is leading a session to bring legislators and community law enforcement together to discuss upcoming legislation and ordinances. Additionally, Shea Taylor, Northwest Rankin Middle School principal, is leading a school administration and faculty session to discuss how vaping disrupts students’ learning and possible solutions and resources to end the distraction. More importantly, the Rankin County School District provides information necessary to see an immediate reduction in vaping related incidents in schools.
Jill Gordon, Executive Director of Enrich MS, said the organization easily converted to digital outreach during COVID. They focused their efforts on building their youth leadership team and became certified in evidence based prevention.
“I know the 2021 Virtual Vaping Summit will not only be an amazing event, but the content and they way we designed the conference allows everyone to be educated in a much faster manner. There is nothing more important than the kids in our state, and this deserves our attention.”
The summit is funded by the Mississippi State Department of Health.
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