A public health department educator lied to my child today about vapes

[curiousJan]

Today in health class my middle-school aged child was told by a public health department educator that vapes cause cancer and I should just use Chantix. Needless to say, I'm livid. I'm planning on penning an email to her health teacher and the principal and can use all the ammo I can find. Initially I was going to schedule a meeting, but an email provides the benefit of a paper trail and the ability to provide direct links to studies and clear, unbiased research.

I make every effort to stay up-to-date on current research (even the bogus, biased studies) but don't recall ever seeing a cancer link. Did I miss something, or is this lady flat out lying to these kids?

 

[Lessifer]

AFAIK there are no links of vapor products to causing cancer. In fact there aren't a whole lot of studies about anything CAUSING cancer. It's almost always correlation data, and there have not been any longitudinal studies of cancer risks with vapor products.

More likely than not it's someone parroting info from the FDA and CDC and other public health groups that is written specifically to be misinterpreted into believing that vaping equals smoking.

casaa.org
ecigarette-research.com
E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco estimates landmark review - Press releases - GOV.UK
and you should find plenty of links from those places to others.

 

[Toronnah]

Yes. Take Chantix and commit suicide.

Now that's a better option to give your child.

 

[r77r7r]

Personally, I have some regrets teaching my children too young that things aren't as they seem. On the other hand, it gave us some time to spend together learning to find truth. In this case, I 'd have just a few words with the child and several with the school.

 

[Foggy Road]

Definitely contact the teacher and principal for starters. But the odds are that on an individual basis these Reichsmarshalls have no more respect for a parent than they do the herds of children subjected to their domination daily.
If no satisfaction from them move on the school board. These people are more politically motivated and MAY actually put some thought into the subject. At least to the extent that their response might affect them.
Letter to the editor of local paper? County board of health?

 

[KentA]

I suggest printing some scientific studies that contradict the health department's educator.
You will have documented proof, & supposedly, the teacher will not.

 

[zoiDman]

... I'm planning on penning an email to her health teacher and the principal and can use all the ammo I can find. ...

Sending an e-Mail is a Very Good Idea.

But if you want to have a Maximum Impact, cc your e-Mail to the Illinois State Board of Education.

Many Times concerns and or Complaints will go No Further than the Principle of a K-12 School. So if the Principle is OK with whatever Transgressed, you will get some Political Speak correspondence about,

"Thank you for bring this to our attention... Bla Bla Bla ... we will look into the matter ... Bla Bla Bla ... education is the our highest priority ... Bla Bla Bla ... please contact us if you have any other concerns ... Bla Bla Bla ... Sincerely ... Bla Bla Bla."

By including a cc of you e-Mail to the Teacher/Principle, it puts them on notice that their Overseers are now aware of your Concerns.

And you will usually receive a Much Different Reply.

---

BTW - Here is an Interesting Read...

UK regulators license BAT e-cigarette as quit-smoking medicine

 

[zoiDman]

BTW2 - You also Should Ask why an Illinois Public School is Indorsing the use of a Prescription Drug (any Prescription Drug) using Taxpayers Monies?

 

[zero7starz]

I just start referencing this: E-cigarettes around 95% less harmful than tobacco estimates landmark review - Press releases - GOV.UK


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JCinFLA]

You might also want to look up Moffitt Cancer Center's 4 year long 3.1 million $ study on e-cigs potential use as a smoking cessation aid. They are a highly respected, well-known Cancer Center in Tampa, FL. Could copy & paste some info on it into your email...or at least put a link in the email to it.

 

[Marc411]

Or download these and attach them to your e-mail and explain to them that reading and knowledge are a core value in our education system.

 

[SeniorBoy]

Perhaps the source of this lie which of course has been rebuked numerous times:

"Without FDA regulation and review, we simply don't know what is in e-cigarettes. However, in initial lab tests conducted in 2009, the FDA found detectable levels of toxic cancer-causing chemicals—including an ingredient used in antifreeze—in two leading brands of e-cigarettes and 18 various cartridges. A review of studies found that levels of toxins in e-cigarette aerosol varied considerably within and between brands. A 2014 study found that aerosol from e-cigarettes with a higher voltage level contains more formaldehyde, another carcinogen with the potential to cause cancer. The findings are alarming, and the American Lung Association urgently calls for FDA oversight of these products."

Source from the ALA

/sigh

 

[Lessifer]

Choose your sources carefully though when you refute this misinformation. For someone who is not likely to do further reading, contradicting the FDA, CDC, ALA, etc. with a blog article from Dr. Never Heardofme won't get you very far.

 

[curiousJan]

I found that exact information from the ALA and can refute the science behind it. I'm still gathering sources and information. Thanks, y'all!