Laserfiche WebLink
C* <br /> :W;) <br /> Partners Wellness <br /> The Honorable Vicente Sarmiento, Mayor <br /> Santa Ana City Council <br /> 20 Civic Center Plaza Santa Ana, CA 92701 <br /> Dear Mayor Sarmiento and Members of the Santa Ana City Council: <br /> This letter is to express Partner4Wellness' support for a comprehensive restriction of flavor tobacco products, <br /> including menthol and hookah, without exemptions in the City of Santa Ana. Flavored tobacco products <br /> undermine efforts to reduce tobacco use among youth and LGBTQ individuals, and put a new generation of <br /> kids at risk of nicotine addiction and tobacco-caused death and disease. <br /> Tobacco companies have a long history of targeting the LGBTQ community through their predatory <br /> marketing efforts, and getting us hooked on their products.Now, flavored tobacco is being used by these <br /> same companies to target and entice new, younger LGBTQ customers. Flavors, like candy and menthol, <br /> cover the harsh taste of tobacco,making it easier to get hooked and harder to quit. Electronic cigarettes (e- <br /> cigarettes)have been the most commonly used tobacco product in the United States since 2014, and over <br /> 68% of e-cigarette users in high school use flavors. <br /> Evidence shows that youth, certain racial/ethnic groups, and women are particularly vulnerable to sweet <br /> flavors and menthol and are largely driving this increased uptake and sustained use of flavored tobacco <br /> products. LGBTQ people have higher rates of both cigarette smoking (32.4%vs 20.3%) and of e-cigarettes <br /> use than non-LGBTQ respondents (25.1%vs 14.3%). Smoking rates among LGBTQ youth range between <br /> 38%to 59% compared to just 28%to 35% of non-LGBTQ youth. Furthermore, it has been shown that <br /> tobacco-related deaths are disproportionately higher for LGBTQ people and other marginalized <br /> communities. <br /> Partners4Wellness supports the restriction of the sale of flavored tobacco without exemptions. Policies that <br /> restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products help protect not only youth but all communities from a lifetime <br /> of addiction. <br /> Sincerely, <br /> sae Aiu&a <br /> Program Manager <br /> Partners4Wellness <br /> 21068 Bake Parkway Lake Forest, California 949.770.1191 Partners Wellness.org <br />