Vaping expert kicks off free Community Lecture series

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. - The Ridley-Tree Cancer Center kicked off its 2020 Community Lecture with a free talk entitled Vaping Among Youth and Young Adults.

Jessica Barrington-Trimus, PhD, spoke to a full house at the Wolf Education and Training center.

The Associate Professor of Preventative Medicine at the University of Southern California encouraged parents to talk to their teens about vaping.

Dr. Barrington-Trimus said the vaping industry is using the big tobacco playbook to get customers including young people, minorities and low income residents.

Her published research has shown that teens who vape are three times as likely to use old fashioned smoking methods.

She also said a majority of underage users are buying vaping products illegally from smoke shops.

Despite what many advertisers suggest the researcher said vaping has not proven to be an effective way to kick the cigarette habit.

For a list of upcoming lectures visit events@ridleytreecc.org or call (805) 879-5698.