My name is Tessa Spivey, and I am a senior at Marlow High school. This is my fourth and last year being a part of Youth Action for Health Leadership (YAHL). YAHL is a youth-led health initiative organization funded by the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET). YAHL works to make Oklahoma healthier through policy change and educating about the harmful effects of tobacco and obesity.

At this point, everyone can see youth in Oklahoma have a vaping problem. Vapes, e-cigarettes and nicotine-only products have taken Oklahoma by storm. Ninety percent of nicotine users start before the user is eighteen. Every day I see the control nicotine addiction has on youth. The big problem is youth access to these products. Currently, Oklahoma has retail licensing but only for traditional cigarettes and not vapes, e-cigarettes and nicotine. The state has no idea where these products are being sold. CounterAct Tobacco is working to move the power out of Big Tobacco's hands and into ours.

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By: Tessa Spivey, Marlow High School