Osceola County tackles youth vaping |
The Osceola County Commission has approved a $400,000 agreement with the Florida Department of Health to fund vaping prevention initiatives aimed at youth. The program will include "school-based education, cessation support, community outreach, and vape detectors in schools," according to a county spokesperson. Advocates, including Candace McKnight from Parents Against Vaping, view this as a significant step forward, emphasizing the need for evidence-based education. Her son’s health decline, attributed to vaping and a respiratory illness, underscores the urgency of this initiative. The Florida Department of Health's Youth Tobacco Survey indicated that 6.7% of high schoolers in Osceola County used vape products in 2024, compared to 10.4% statewide.