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Mounds View <br />HIGH SCHOOL Stephanie Bruggers Greg Martin Michael Schwartz Jim Galvin <br />Mounds View Public Schools Principal Associate Principal Associate Principal Activities Director <br />August 15, 2019 <br />Mounds View City Council <br />2401 County Hwy 10 <br />Mounds View, MN 55112 <br />Dear Mayor Mueller and Mounds View City Council Members, <br />I strongly support your efforts in working on an ordinance to increase the tobacco sales age to <br />21. Approximately 95% of current adult smokers started before they were 21. If youth don't <br />smoke by the time they are 21, they likely never will. <br />As the Student Support Health Coordinator serving the students of Mounds View schools, I am <br />writing you to tell you that in my experience, tobacco products are still very appealing to our <br />young people. Tobacco has countless long-term negative health effects. In fact, the Minnesota <br />Department of Health released a health alert just this week to notify healthcare providers of <br />severe lung injury cases among teens who reported vaping. We also know that nicotine interferes <br />with brain maturation and can have long term effects on development and mental health. <br />The tobacco industry heavily targets young adults primarily between ages 18-21, particularly <br />with E -cigarettes. They come in bright colors and an array of flavors like strawberry, banana split <br />and cotton candy. Tobacco use among Minnesota High School students has increased for the first <br />time in 17 years. According to the 2017 Minnesota Youth Tobacco Survey, 26.7% of high school <br />students reported using a tobacco product in the past 30 days. <br />Increasing the tobacco sales age to 21 is a positive step towards keeping tobacco products out of <br />the hands of our youth. Your work will help us in creating and maintaining a healthy learning <br />environment for our youth and the students of Mounds View Public Schools. <br />Sincerely, <br />QW*O U - 'l �MN, V -N, PM, lnq <br />Sarah Osterman, MN, RN, PHN, LSN <br />Student Support Health Coordinator <br />1900 Lake Valentine Rd. m Arden Hills, MN 55112-2841 o moundsviewschools.org/moundsview -,Phone 651- 621-7100 *Fax 651-621-7105 <br />