February 12, 2022
by Vi Thuy Nguyen MD
Big thanks to our amazing SDPCA Anti-vaping team for their efforts this week! Aida Castenada, the Deputy Coalition Manager for San Diegans vs Big Tobacco, reached out to us this week with advocacy needs. And our team stepped up big time! Vivian Nguyen, our student co-founder, finished writing an amazing op-ed which we are waiting to strategically submit. Dr. Naomi Lawrence-Reid last minute was able to virtually testify on our collective behalf at the San Diego City Council meeting advocating for the strong menthol ammendment to the proposed anti-flavored tobacco products bill. Vivian Nguyen was also there to lend a powerful youth voice as a young San Diegan.
To finish off this strong anti-vaping advocacy week, we were asked to write a concise 200-word San Diego Union Tribune Letter to the Editor. So here is the text of our letter.
February 12, 2022
To Our Fellow San Diegans,
San Diego Pediatricians for Clean Air (SDPCA) urges the City Council and Mayor to support the ordinance that bans flavored tobacco products including menthol and e-cigarettes as amended by Councilmember von Wilpert.
Councilmembers von Wilpert and Montgomery have demonstrated leadership. This policy effectively addresses the vaping epidemic and flavors in tobacco products. A 2019 study found that e-cigarettes users displayed higher nicotine dependence and levels of addiction than those who smoke cigarettes. For our coalition of pediatricians, we see the real-world effects of the vaping epidemic in our offices. San Diego children across socio-economic and ethnic groups tell us about the pervasiveness of vapes in their schools and the use among their friends. We see the clinical effects of vaping in poor pediatric respiratory health, increased referral to addiction services, and effects on pediatric mental health.
SDPCA is committed to efforts to create the healthiest environments for children, which includes strong policies to protect children from flavored tobacco products including menthol and e-cigarettes. Thank you to your local and state leaders for helping create the healthiest environment for San Diego’s children by considering this ordinance with the amendment as quickly as possible.
Respectfully submitted,
Vi Thuy Nguyen MD, FAAP
Peony Liu MD, FAAP
Naomi Lawrence Reid MD, FAAP
Vivian Nguyen, UC Berkeley
And most importantly, social-media evidence that we are advocating for kids. Because advocacy is practicing medicine, it’s “Doctoring Differently.” So much love to the anti-vaping team at SDPCA!!! True child advocates.
Update! Our SD-UT Letter to the Editor was published!!! https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/story/2022-02-15/opinion-san-diego-should-ban-sale-of-flavored-tobacco-products-flavored-e-cigarettes
