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i� d t IL J SANTA ANA YOUTH COALITION Santa Ana Youth vs. Big Tobacco Campaign This letter is to express my support for a policy in the City of Santa Ana to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products including menthol cigarettes without exemptions. Flavored tobacco products undermine efforts to reduce tobacco use among youth and LGBTQ indivdivals, and put a new generation of kids at risk of nicotine addiction and tobacco-caused death and disease. Tobacco companies have a long history of targeting the LGBTQ community through their predatory marketing efforts, and getting us hooked on their products. Now,flavored tobacco is being used by these same companies to target and entice new, younger LGBTQ customers. Flavors, like candy and menthol, cover the harsh taste of tobacco, making it easier to get hooked and harder to quit. Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have been the most commonly used tobacco product in the United States since 2014, and over 68%of e-cigarette users in high school use flavors. Evidence shows that youth, certain racial/ethnic groups, and women are particularly vulnerable to sweet flavors and menthol and are largely driving this increased uptake and sustained use of flavored tobacco products. LGBTQ people have higher rates of both cigarette smoking (32.4%vs 20.3%) and of e-cigarettes use than non-LGBTQ respondents (25.1%vs 14.3%). Smoking rates among LGBTQ youth range between 38%to 59%compared to just 28%to 35%of non-LGBTQ youth. Furthermore, it has been shown that tobacco-related deaths are disproportionately higher for LGBTQ people and other marginalized communities. I encourage the City of Santa Ana to consider the motion to restrict the sale of flavored tobacco. Policies that restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products help protect not only youth but all communities from a lifetime of addiction. Sandy Ta Name Signature Pride Club, Carr Intermediate School Name of Organization or Business sandy.ta@sausd.us Email Address 714-480-4100 Phone Number € My organization is endorsing this measure. € You may use my name as an endorser, and my organization's name for identification purposes only.