Governor Parson Signs Executive Order Creating Statewide Vaping Education Campaign

This week, Governor Mike Parson signed an executive order creating a statewide campaign to educate and discourage vaping among Missouri youth. During his remarks announcing the campaign, Parson stated that the number of middle and high school students who use vaping products has jumped from 19 to 27 percent since 2014.

The executive order commands the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, and Department of Public Safety to "collaborate in developing a statewide campaign designed to educate, warn, and deter the use of vaping devices among the youth of the State of Missouri" within the next 30 days. 

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, there have been 1,080 lung injury cases and 18 deaths associated with using vaping products in the U.S. The first vaping-related death in Missouri was confirmed last month. 

Executive Order 19-18 can be found on the Secretary of State's website.