Senator Lewis to Host Forum on Teen Vaping Epidemic

Continuing his “Community Conversations” discussion series, Senator Jason Lewis is pleased to host an upcoming conversation on the teen e-cigarette use, also known as “vaping.” Community Conversations are issue discussions delving into a different timely topic at each forum, with ample opportunity for residents to share feedback and have their questions answered by experts on the given topic.

This upcoming event — Community Conversations: Combating the Teen Vaping Epidemic — will take place on Wednesday, May 15, at 6:30pm. The event will occur at the Americal Civic Center, 467 Main St, Wakefield, and is free and open to the public.

Attendees will hear from Dr. Monica Bharel, the Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Public Health; Elise Yannett, policy coordinator in the office of Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey; and Maureen Buzby, coordinator of the Regional Tobacco Prevention Program. Introductory remarks will be offered by Senator Lewis, the Senate Chair of the Joint Committee on Education and the former Chair of the Committee on Public Health. There will be ample time for audience questions and community feedback.

With questions about attendance, please contact Senator Lewis’s office at (617) 722-1206 or Jason.Lewis@masenate.gov. All are welcome to attend, and teens and their families are especially encouraged to come and share their perspectives on the growing prevalence of teen vaping.

The forum is co-sponsored by Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc., State Representative Paul Brodeur, Representative Donald H. Wong, Mystic Valley Public Health Coalition, Malden Overcoming Addiction, Melrose Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, Reading Coalition Against Substance Abuse, Stoneham Coalition for a Safe and Healthy Community Wake-Up, and Winchester Coalition For A Safer Community.

Previous “Community Conversations” forums have addressed topics including: public education; public transportation; small business and entrepreneurship; challenges facing senior citizens and caregivers; veterans’ issues; mental health; housing; energy policy and environmental priorities; and, efforts to combat substance abuse and opioid addiction in our region.