Issue 5 Fall 2019

Illnesses Related to Vapor Devices

From the CDC: As of September 18, there were more than 500 cases of vaping-related lung injury reported from 38 states. Seven deaths have been confirmed in six states.

As of September 26 in Washington, there were seven confirmed cases of lung illnesses related to vaping, and one confirmed case in Snohomish County. Based on initial data from certain states, it is known that most patients reported a history of using e-cigarette products containing THC. Many patients have reported using THC and nicotine. Some have reported the use of e-cigarette products containing only nicotine. It is still unknown what is specifically causing these lung injuries. The investigation is ongoing and has not identified any specific e-cigarette or vaping product (devices, liquids, refill pods, and/or cartridges) or substance that is linked to all cases. Almost all cases had some form of respiratory symptoms (shortness of breath, cough, and chest pain) and the majority had gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea) as well as fever. The one commonality is vaping.

The No. 1 message – Stop vaping, or don't start vaping!
For more information about vapor-related illnesses in Washington, visit the Department of Health's website.

Free vaping-related resources provided by the FDA
Posters were mailed out to all high schools this summer. To print more, or to print them for your middle school or other youth-focused organization, click the link here.

The FDA also worked with Scholastic to develop lesson plans and other materials for teachers and schools. They are available here.

Vaccines Can Prevent Cancer

We know that vaccines protect us from viruses like measles and mumps and bacterial infections like tetanus and whooping cough. But did you know there are two vaccines that protect us from viruses that can cause cancer?

Both of these vaccine-preventable viral infections usually clear on their own, but in some cases become long-term, chronic conditions. Many people have no symptoms of disease until they are diagnosed with a serious complication.

The first is hepatitis B (HBV). This virus spreads through contact with blood and other bodily fluids such as semen and saliva (biting can be the mode of transmission). The HBV virus is sturdy and can remain infectious on surfaces for more than seven days at room temperature. Chronic hepatitis B infections are a major cause of liver cancer, which kills between 1,000 and 1,500 people in the United States every year. Disease rates have declined since effective vaccines became available in the 1980s, but hepatitis B continues to spread through high-risk sexual activity, injection drug use, and other contacts with infected people. Early exposures to hepatitis B virus are more likely to develop into chronic infections, which is why the “birth dose” of hepatitis B vaccine is recommended for all infants within 24 hours of delivery. Two more doses, recommended at one to two months and six to 18 months, complete the series.

Infants born to chronically infected mothers receive hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG) along with the “birth dose.” HBIG provides “passive immunity," which is antibodies to fight any exposure to the virus until the baby’s own immune system responds to the vaccine and makes its own antibodies. Public Health provides case management for these infants to ensure they receive the full hepatitis B vaccine series and follow-up testing. Hepatitis B vaccine is available and recommended for children and adolescents who do not receive or complete the series as infants. Adults can receive hepatitis B vaccine, too. If you haven’t been vaccinated, talk to your healthcare provider about your risk of contracting the virus.

The second cancer prevention vaccine is for human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is spread through sexual contact, with most new infections acquired during adolescence or young adulthood. Long-term infections can cause oropharyngeal (back of the throat), cervical, anal, vulvar, penile and vaginal cancers. A recent report estimated that, from 2012-2016, 690 people in Washington State developed an HPV-related cancer, including 280 oropharyngeal and 190 cervical cancers, each year.

The HPV vaccine is most effective when given before the onset of sexual activity. A second dose series of HPV vaccine is recommended at age 11 or 12, but can be started as early as 9. Three doses are needed if the series is started on or after the 15^th birthday or if the adolescent has an immune compromising condition. Catch-up vaccination is recommended for everyone until their 27^th birthday.

Adults ages 27 to 45 can also receive the vaccine. While not routinely recommended for this group, having a new sex partner is a risk factor for acquiring an HPV infection. Concerned adults should have a discussion with their health care providers.

HPV vaccine has proven to be a safe and effective way to prevent infections that lead to these cancers. Studies show decreases in genital warts, another outcome of HPV infection, and cervical lesions that are precursors to cancer in vaccinated populations. Interestingly, these decreases were also seen in unvaccinated populations, demonstrating the community immunity effect. For more information, visit the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention website at:
https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/hbv/bfaq.htm
https://www.cdc.gov/hpv/

Evert time you think of calling a kid 'attention-seeking' consider changing it to 'connection seeking' and see how your perspective changes

Perspective is everything.
Credit: The Teacher Learning Center Facebook page; Twitter @JodyCarrington and @gcouros

Now Available! CDC’s comprehensive teen dating violence prevention model

Explore the new Dating Matters Toolkit and learn how it can help your community prevent teen dating violence.

Dating Matters®: Strategies to Promote Healthy Teen Relationships includes prevention strategies for individuals, peers, families, schools, and neighborhoods. It focuses on teaching 11- to 14-year-olds the skills they need to have healthy relationships and prevent negative relationship behaviors early in life.

What’s included?

The Dating Matters Toolkit includes all of the materials and tools you need to carry out Dating Matters, including an online training for youth and parent program facilitators and guidance for organizations leading implementation in their community. It includes:

1. Implementation Guidance

Guide to Implementation helps communities build a strong foundation for implementing Dating Matters.
Coaches’ Playbook guides Dating Matters Coaches in the supervision and support of parent and youth program facilitators.
At-A-Glance briefs highlight the goals and resources needed to implement each component of Dating Matters to help engage partners and decision-makers.
Online Facilitator Training provides free, online access to interactive training for youth and parent program facilitators.
Team Up! creates a free online community of practice for staff involved in Dating Matters implementation to share ideas and experiences.

2. Programs for middle school youth and their parents
3. A youth communications program
4. A training for educators
5. Tools to help build capacity, track indicator data, and inform local policy

All of the components of Dating Matters work together to reinforce healthy relationship messages and reduce behaviors that increase the risk of dating violence.

Free Naloxone for Schools

All high schools, colleges and universities, public libraries, and YMCAs in Washington State can obtain up to two FREE kits of Narcan nasal spray (naloxone) through a program at Emergent BioSolutions.

To take advantage of this program, simply complete this form and return it directly to Ashley Flint at EBSI (info below).

Ashley Flint
Emergent BioSolutions
100 Matsonford Road
Building 4, Suite 201
Radnor, PA 19087
t: 484 406 5268
c: 484 988 3060
e: flinta@ebsi.com
www.emergentbiosolutions.com

For training on opioid overdose response and how to administer naloxone, there are a number of videos and materials here, including information on Washington State’s Good Samaritan Law.
http://stopoverdose.org/section_type/overdose/

In Washington, it is legal for any person to obtain, possess, and administer naloxone in a suspected overdose. More about these laws can be found here:
http://stopoverdose.org/section/learn-about-naloxone/#laws

LifeSkills Training (LST) Substance Abuse Prevention Grant in Washington State

The Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is providing funding, through iGrants (#761), for implementation of this highly regarded and effective prevention program to address marijuana and other substance use in your school or youth-serving organization that works with middle school age children.

The grant is open to all public schools, school districts, and community organizations that serve middle school age youth.

The grant will pay for student and teacher materials for all three levels for all students at your school or site. It will also pay for required instructor training. The LifeSkills Training (LST) Substance Abuse Prevention Grant allows schools and youth-serving organizations to implement the evidence-based Botvin LifeSkills Training (LST) Middle School Program.
The Botvin LifeSkills Training program teaches youth how to:

Cope with and manage stress and anxiety
Build positive relationship and communication skills
Develop refusal skills to prevent and reduce substance use and abuse.

Applications can be submitted through iGrants, a secure application within OSPI’S Education Data System. The LifeSkills Training Middle School grant application is Form Package 761. Grant application deadline is Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 4 p.m.

Upcoming Training Opportunities:
Opioid Teacher Training
Monday, January 27, 3:00-6:00 pm
Snohomish Health District Auditorium
3020 Rucker Ave, Everett, WA
More info and flyer

Teacher Training on Monday January 27, 3 to 6 p.m., at 3020 Rucker Avenue