Missouri Governor Mike Parson has signed an executive order to address the use of vaping devices by young people in the state.
The order directs the Departments of Health and Senior Services, Elementary and Secondary Education and Public Safety to use existing resources to develop a statewide campaign “to educate, warn and deter the use of vaping devices among Missouri’s youth.”
It also directs those agencies to review evidence regarding the causes of vaping-related injuries and tailor their prevention and educational messaging “to counter vaping industry marketing practices that target youth.”
The executive order states the campaign must be developed and launched within 30 days.
According to the governor’s office, despite laws prohibiting the use of vaping devices among individuals under the age of 18, the Missouri Student Survey has reported increased use of the devices by middle school and high school students every year since 2014.
