Missouri governor launches vaping awareness campaign

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Gov. Mike Parson held a press conference to launch his vaping awareness campaign on Monday.

In October, Parson signed an executive order for the "Clear the Air: The Risks of Youth Vaping" public awareness campaign.

Video of the news conference is available in the player below.

The campaign will be a coordinated effort between the departments of elementary and Secondary Education, Health and Human Services and Public Safety. It is aimed at educating, warning and deterring the use of vaping devices among Missouri's youth.

“One of the most important responsibilities I have as Governor is to protect the health and well-being of our future generations. Vaping is truly an epidemic among our youth, and we must take action now to educate them about the potential risks of these products,” Governor Parson said. “Over the last 30 days, DHSS, DESE, and DPS have worked hard to develop this campaign, and we appreciate their team effort to bring awareness to the dangers of youth vaping and ensure a healthy public now and in the future.”

Since Friday, the governor's office reports there have been 35 cases of lung injury linked to vaping, including two deaths. The majority of those cases are in people ages 15 to 24.

The campaign published a website that includes various varing-related statistics and facts.