CONTRIBUTED PHOTO Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters will host Lunch and Learns addressing vaping in youth July 9 and Oct. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Marshalltown Public Library, Meeting Room A. Mr. Gross Mouth will be on display.

E-cigarettes, also called vapes, are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. One in four high schoolers vape, and one in 10 middle schoolers vape, according to Your Life Iowa. Heart of Iowa Big Brothers Big Sisters, based in Marshalltown, is working to reduce those numbers.

“We are wanting to do more in-person trainings for our Bigs and we recently held our first Lunch and Learn to help mentors understand how to effectively talk to their Littles or other peers about vaping risks,” said Executive Director Brookelyn Schlawin.

BBBS’s next two Lunch and Learns are slated for July 9 and Oct. 8 from noon to 1 p.m. at the Marshalltown Public Library, Meeting Room A. A light lunch and beverages will be provided. Registration not required.

“We get a grant from Iowa HHS, and it’s with Your Life Iowa, so they have a call, a text and an online chat for help with gambling, mental health, substance use, tobacco use,” she noted. “The American Lung Association actually had reached out to me to say that they’d be happy to do some presentations for us. We wanted our Littles to understand it, and for our Bigs to feel comfortable having conversations.”

She said the goal is to provide honest information with a non-judgmental approach.

“We want to make it matter to the Little as to why they wouldn’t want to (vape),” she added.

Parents, grandparents and educators are welcome to attend.

“We really want anyone who deals with anyone from ages 10 to 19 to come,” she noted.

Most e-cigarettes contain nicotine, which is highly addictive. Those with “fun flavors,” critics argue, are aimed at minors. Under federal law, the minimum legal age to purchase all tobacco products, including vapes, e-cigarettes and e-liquids, is 21 years old.

On display during these talks is Mr. Gross Mouth, which visibly represents receding gums, tooth discoloration and loss, and oral cancers.

“We talked to seventh and eighth graders last year over at West Marshall, to get an idea of what (they) would want to go over with a Big in high school. And astoundingly — I would say probably half of the room of seventh and eighth graders — said vaping is their biggest worry with their friends and significant others. They want to get them to stop vaping. That was our eye-opener,” she said.

Schlawin added that in addition to offering public education on e-cigarettes, BBBS is also planning to tackle opioid usage.

“This year we got accepted for the opioid grant money, too, from the county. We have those funds now that can provide this for more people. We can offer that lunch and make it a fun, interactive meeting where people can get something out of this and not just feel like they were lectured at by the end,” she noted.

Secondhand smoke/aerosol (the cloud of chemicals exhaled by someone who smokes or vapes) can negatively impact health. Third-hand smoke/aerosol are chemicals that remain after the cloud disappears, and can stay on surfaces including skin, hair, furniture, walls and floors.

My Life My Quit offers free, confidential quitting resources for youth ages 13-17. Text “Start my quit” to 36072 to get started and learn more at: MyLifeMyQuit.org.

BBBS has just under 60 kids on the waitlist for mentors (Bigs). The program offers school and community-based opportunities.

“You can apply for the school-based (program) now so we can get the process started,” she said. “(Mentoring) will open back up when the school year starts in the fall. Community-based is going right now.”

There are a little over 120 Littles matched in the programs currently. Community-based Bigs must be at least 18 years or older. School-based Bigs must be at least 16 years of age. The following school districts are served: Marshalltown, West Marshall and BCLUW.

To learn more, Schlawin may be reached at: director@heartofiowabigs.org.