The Louisiana Cancer Research Center's Promising Practice Conference on Community Health, held at LSU Shreveport this year, focused on the worsening vaping epidemic among Louisiana’s youth. One out of five middle school students and one out of four high school students vape, a troubling fact to the parents, teachers, and health advocates who attended the event.

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Community health researcher Shakiera Causey, PhD, in her keynote talk, noted an increase in marketing vaping products targeted toward young people as cigarette usage declined. “Tobacco and vaping companies knew that their customer base was shrinking among adults, so they turned their attention to a new audience–our kids.”  Dr. Causey noted that many vapes deliver more nicotine in a single hit than an entire cigarette. “Studies now show links between vaping and chronic lung damage. It rewires developing brains for addiction. And whose brains are still developing until the age of 25? Our youth.”

For those trying to convince a young person to quit vaping, Dr. Causey suggested, "start first with curiosity, not correction...sometimes the truth is a tough pill to swallow, and it hurts, but try your best to stay calm." Reacting with shame and punishment will discourage them from returning for further conversations, she said.

Dr. Joseph Francis, professor of Comparative Biomedical Sciences at the LSU School of Veterinary Medicine, gave the afternoon keynote address. In his talk he presented several troubling indications about vaping’s effect on cancer cells, suggesting that people with a genetic predisposition to cancer by having, for example, the BRACA  gene or family history of cancer, could potentially increase their risk by vaping since it induced or exacerbated cancer cell pathways in his lab studies.

Participants connected in breakout sessions, sharing their own experiences and insights on vaping risk, trends, and misconceptions.  A panel of LCRC partners outlined their services for smoking cessation, cancer prevention, and treatment. “Working together is the only way we’ll be able to reduce cancer in Louisiana,” said Dr. Earl N. Benjamin-Robinson, director of the Louisiana Cancer Research Center’s Office of Community Engagement.  

Next year’s Promising Practices Conference will be held at the University of Louisiana, Monroe.

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LCRC Office of Community Engagement

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LCRC Partner and Community Engagement Initiatives

Louisiana Tobacco Control  Initiative  - smoking cessation services

Louisiana Cancer Prevention & Control Programs (LCP) – breast, cervical, colorectal, lung cancer screening and prevention

Louisiana Campaign for Tobacco Free Living (TFL) -tobacco-free policies, smoking cessation

Communities of Color Network (CoC) – grass roots smoking cessation

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