The Coalition to End Tobacco Targeting, made up of community groups, public health advocacy organizations and faith institutions from around the city, is seeking to end the sale of flavored tobacco products in Columbus. This includes sweet, candy flavored e-cigarettes and menthol cigarettes that have been used by the tobacco industry as an effective and intentional means of getting children and vulnerable communities addicted to nicotine.
There are thousands of flavors such as bubblegum, cherry dynamite, popcorn and blueberry ice — which are addicting a new generation of kids to nicotine on the market. Meanwhile, menthol has a devastating impact on youth initiation of tobacco use and is a significant cause of health disparities and preventable death in the Black community. For decades, tobacco companies have targeted specific communities with marketing for menthol cigarettes, especially Black, Latino and LGTBQ communities.
The City of Columbus has a proud history of taking action in support of public health. Such leadership is needed now. According to the 2019 Ohio Youth Tobacco Survey, nearly one in four high school students and nearly 13% of middle school students have used a flavored tobacco product. In Franklin County, Columbus Public Health has seen an 8% increase in smoking rates for African American adults. A law to end the sale of flavored tobacco, would not prohibit possession or use of such products, and would be enforced by Columbus Public Health rather than law enforcement.
Release: Public Health Organizations Call for the City of Columbus to End the Sale of Flavored Tobacco
News: Former Columbus Mayor Michael Coleman has personal reason to seek menthol cigarette ban (subscription needed)
Tobacco companies continue to aggressively market menthol-flavored cigarettes to kids, African Americans, Latinos and other demographic groups as they have for decades.
Flavors like Cherry Dynamite, Mango Mania, Gummi Bear, Fruity Pebbles, Chocolate, Tropical Twist, Sugar Cookie, Fizzy Lemonade, Cool Mint, and Blueberry Ice are still readily available in various forms.
Youth e-cigarette usage has skyrocketed to what the US Surgeon General and Food and Drug Administration have called “epidemic” levels. Some 2 million kids nationally — one in six Ohio high school students — now use e-cigarettes.
Action for Children
ADAMH Board of Franklin County
Africentric Personal Development Shop, Inc.
AIDS Healthcare Foundation
American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network
American Heart Association
American Lung Association
Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital & Richard J. Solove Research Institute
Black Girl Rising
Black Physician's Network
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids
Cancer Support Network
Central Community House
Charitable Pharmacy of Central Ohio
Children's Defense Fund-Ohio
Columbus African American News Journal
Columbus Early Learning Centers
Columbus Medical Association
Columbus Metropolitan Housing Authority
Columbus Public Health
Columbus Urban League
Community for New Direction
Franklin County Public Health
Future Ready Columbus
Gamma Alpha
Help & Hope Community Center
Human Services Chamber of Franklin County
Impact Community Action
Kaleidoscope Youth Center (KYC)
Local Matters
Maryhaven
Mid-Ohio Food Collective
Mt. Carmel Health System
NAACP Columbus Chapter
National Coalition of 100 Black Women. Inc. Central Ohio Chapter
National LGBT Cancer Network
National Youth Advocate Program
Nationwide Children's Hospital
Ohio Academy of Family Physicians
Ohio Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics
OhioHealth
Parents Against Vaping E-cigarettes
Pelotonia
PFLAG Columbus
Preventing Tobacco Addiction Foundation/Tobacco 21
PrimaryOne Health
Star House
St. Vincent Family Services
Stonewall Columbus
Syntero
Tailored Fit
The Center for Healthy Families
The Center for Community Solutions
The Breathing Association
The Ohio State University College of Social Work
The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center
United Way of Central Ohio
Urban Strings
YWCA Columbus
Wolfe Park Tennis Association