INDIANAPOLIS — A brand new report reveals Indiana ranks seventh within the nation for e-cigarette use amongst adults.

A research from the Richard M. Fairbanks Basis reveals from 2016-21, the variety of adults nationwide who used e-cigarettes elevated by roughly 40%. In Indiana, nonetheless, that improve was roughly 70%. The research went on to say every e-cigarette consumer within the U.S. means an extra $2,000 in well being care prices every year.

”Now we have a big downside with vaping,” mentioned Jami Carlson, a tobacco remedy specialist with the Vanderburgh County Well being Division.

Carlson mentioned 90% of e-cigarette customers aged 18 and over that she helps are pregnant ladies.

”Most of them report beginning e-cigarette use on the age of round 15,” Carlson mentioned.

Vanderburgh County is one in every of 86 Indiana counties that opted into the state’s $225 million Well being First Indiana Initiative. Carlson mentioned the Vanderburgh County Well being Division will roll out a program within the subsequent a number of years to assist space faculties deal with children with nicotine addictions.

”We’ll discuss to the youngsters by way of phone, and we’ll conduct our teaching with them with a web-based format,” Carlson mentioned.

The brand new research additionally reveals practically 20% of Marion County eleventh and twelfth graders reported vaping prior to now month (in comparison with 9% of all Indiana youth). Kendyll Matthews, a tobacco well being educator with the Marion County Well being Division, mentioned officers are pushing faculties to offer children the sources they should give up.

”We try to get faculties to maneuver away from … doing extra punitive measures like suspending them instantly or expelling them,” Matthews mentioned. “… That’s simply not proven to scale back youth use.”

Shelby Jackson, a public well being educator with the Vigo County Well being Division, mentioned Vigo County up to date its indoor smoking ordinance earlier this month to incorporate e-cigarettes. Thus far, Vigo is one in every of three counties in Indiana to introduce such a legislation.

”That is stream-railing the trail for different counties to simply observe foot,” Jackson mentioned.

Dr. Cynthia Meneghini, the Program Director of Household Drugs Residency for Neighborhood East Hospital in Indianapolis, mentioned Indiana has among the lowest tax charges on tobacco within the nation, and that the one most essential issue that helps individuals give up is price.

”We’ve tried to boost taxes on cigarettes and e-cigarettes, and the laws simply drags its toes whereas Hoosiers die basically,” Meneghini mentioned. “So, we might elevate the price of all these merchandise — that might assist immensely.”

The $225 million of the Well being First Indiana Initiative will probably be divvied out all through 2024 and 2025. Counties that didn’t decide into receiving funds in 2024 can nonetheless decide in to receiving funds in 2025 in the event that they so select.