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Vaping – What Parents Should Know

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E-cigarette and young people

You may have seen e-cigarettes/vapes shaped like USB flash drives, such as JUUL. They are very easy for young people to sneak into the house and school without the notice of adults that are unfamiliar with these products. Tobacco companies are intentional in the design of these products for this particular reason and appeal to youth due to their discreet appearance.

E-cigarettes in all their forms and shapes are dangerous and can cause irreversible lung damage. Aerosol released in e-cigarette smoke contains harmful ingredients such as nicotine, cancer-causing chemicals, heavy metals and many others. Vaping is highly addictive because of the amount of nicotine that it contains. In fact, one JUUL pod contains the same amount of nicotine as 20 cigarettes or a pack of cigarettes. Just think about that. No amount of smoking or vaping is safe for young people because nicotine can harm their brain development which continues until about the age of 25. Tobacco companies target kids with their ads at store fronts, TV, movies, social media. As a parent, you are in the best position to protect your kids against big tobacco companies.

Educate your kids early

There is a misconception among parents in our community about educating children on the dangers of vaping at an early age. During a recent community event, a mom stopped by at our Wellshare table with her two boys, 7 years and 5 years old. I gave the mom a few posters on tobacco education and as I started to talk to her about youth vaping in our community, the mom turned to her two boys and asked them to stand a few feet behind her out of fear that they might hear what I was talking to her about. The truth is, children are exposed to e-cigarettes as early as in middle school. In 2022, 1 in 30 children in middle school reported that they have vaped, while 1 in 7 high school students reported that they have vaped1. According to the CDC, many young people start tobacco use by the age of 11 years and can be addicted by the age of 142, so it is recommended that parents start the conversation about tobacco use as early as 5 or 6 years old and continue to talk to them through their high school years. As a parent, you are the greatest influence in your child’s life. By starting a conversation about the harms of vaping at home, you are helping inform them to take a stand against these products.

Have a healthy discussion

Make sure you are prepared for your conversation with your children by learning about the different types and shapes of e-cigarettes and the dangers they pose to health. Talk to your children about the health risks and make sure to state your firm expectation that they stay away from tobacco use, especially e-cigarettes. Additionally, make sure you are aware of any friends of your kids that vape so that you are able to talk to them about ways of saying no to peer-pressure. Don’t let tobacco companies glamorize tobacco use for your kids. Take a stand!

Amina Salad

Program Coordinator

WellShare International

Reference

  1. Youth and tobacco use. (2023, June 1). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/fact_sheets/youth_data/tobacco_use/index.htm
  2. Youth tobacco prevention. (2023, January 27). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/youth/index.htm

Health

Attention, Minnesota! Measles Outbreak Alert

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Minnesota –

The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) confirmed measles outbreak. This highly contagious virus can be serious, especially for young children and those with weakened immune systems. Here’s what you need to know:

🔹 What is Measles? A viral infection that causes a high fever, cough, runny nose, and a characteristic rash. It can lead to complications like pneumonia and encephalitis.

🔹Symptoms to Watch For: Fever, cough, runny nose, and a red, blotchy rash that typically starts on the face and spreads.

🔹 Prevention: The best defense is vaccination. Ensure you and your family are up-to-date with the MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccine. It’s safe and highly effective.

🔹 If You Suspect Infection: Contact your healthcare provider immediately and avoid public places to prevent spreading the virus.

Your vigilance can help protect our community. For more information and updates, check with local health authorities and healthcare providers.

Stay safe and informed! https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/measles/index.html

#MeaslesOutbreak#MinnesotaHealth#VaccinateToProtect

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OGEYSIIS: XANUUNKA JADEECADDA OO MINNESOTA KU FAAFAY

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Minnesota –

Waxaad Tusmo Times uga barateen in aan idinla wadaagno oo aan idin wargelino akhbaar, warar iyo macluumaad la xiriira ammniga, bed-qabka bulshadda iyo arrimaha guud ahaan saameeya bulshadda Soomaaliyeed eek u dhaqan gobolka Minnesota. Haddaba maanta waxaan idinla wadaageynaa fariin, macluumaad iyo wargelin muhiim ah oo ku socota qoysaska iyo bulshadda Soomaalida oo la xiriirta caafimaadka.

Waaxda Caafimaadka ee Minnesota ayaa sheegtay in Cudurka Jadeecada oo bishii shanaad ee May ka bilowday gobolka Minnesota uu faafay, cudurkan ayaa ku faafay oo soo riday 39 carruur ah, sidoo kale tiradda carruurta ama dadka uu ku dhacay ama laga helay cudurka jadeecadda ee gobolka Minnesota ayaa 40 qof maraya sannadkan.

Ha’yadda Caafimaadka Aduunka ee (World Health Organization) ayaa sheegtay in 136,000 oo qof in ay u dhinteen cudurka jadeecada dunida oo dhan sannadkii 2022-ka.

Ururka Caafimaadka Aduunka ee WHO ayaa ku dhawaaqay sannadkii 2000 in cudurka Jadeecadda gebi ahaanba dalka Mareykanka laga tirtiray oo saameeyntiisa la so oaf-jaray. Balse sannadkii 2017-kii ayuu cudurku dib uga dilaacay gobolka Minnesota, wuxuuna ku dhacay 70 qof oo u baddan Soomaali. Sannadkii 2022 ayuu markale cudurku dib ugu faafay gobolka Minnesota markii laga helay dhowr qof oo dalka dibadiisa u safray.

MAXAY KA DHIGAN TAHAY WARBIXINTAN LA XIRIIRTA CUDURKA JADEECADA?

Jadeecadu waa xanuun la kala qaado oo uu fayrus keeno, kuna faafa hawada, qofkuna qufac iyo hindhiso yeesho. Cudurka Jadeecadu waa caabuq uu talaal baajin karo.

Haddaba faafitaanka cudurkan jadeecada, gaar ahaan saameynta uu ku leeyahay carruurta Soomaalida oo iyagu u baddan 30 qof ee uu cudurku soo ritay ayaa la xiriirta, loona aaneynayaa talaal la’aanta ama carruurta aanan talaalneyn.

Marka ay qoysasku socdaalaan ama safar ay ku tagaan wadamo qaarada Africa kamid ah, carruurtooduna ayna talaalneyn waxay keentaa in ay qaadaan cudurka, kaddibna ku faafo qoyska iyo bulshadda inteeda kale. Waana mida keentay in uu mudo kooban cudurku ku faafo Minnesota, gaar ahaan carruurta Soomaalida.

Waxaa jira dugsi kamid ah dugsiyadda ku yaala gobolka Minnesota oo ay maamulka dugsigu iskood u xireen dugsiga si ay uga hortagaan faafitaanka cudurka Jadeecada.

Waxaa bilowday oo dib loogu noqday Iskuuladii. Sidoo kale waxaa jira goobo ay kamid yihiin XANAANOOYINKA, DUGSIYADDA, ISKUULADDA, GOOBAHA LAGU CIYAARO IYO XARUMO KALE oo ay si gaar ah carruurta Soomaalidu u tagaan, uguna xiran yihiin, waana arrin kordhin karta faafitaanka cudurka oo walwalkeeda leh.

MAXAY YIHIIN CALAAMADAHA JADEECADU?

Calaamadaha jadeecada waxay badanaa yimaadaan marka hal ilaa laba todobaad kaddib qofku la kulmo cid qabta cudurkan. Jadeecadu waxay ku bilaabantaa duuf sanka ah oo qofka ka dareera, qufac, indhaha oo casaan noqda. Dhibco yaryar oo cadaan ah ayaa kasoo baxa afka wixii ka danbee sadex maalmood marka calaamadaha la arko oo ay la socoto xumad yar (101-102°F). Finan badan ayaa qofka ka soo yaaca oo ay u dheertahay xumad baddan oo gaaraysa (104°F) taas oo timaada saddex ilaa shan maalmood kaddib marka calaamadaha u horeeyay la arkay.

Finanka qofka ka soo baxa ayaa bilaaba in ay yeeshaan meelo casaan ah oo wajiga ka soo baxa, kaddibna waxay ku faafaan jidhka intiisa kale. Ka dib marka finanku faafaan, waxaa dhici karta in ay finanka kala duwan isasoo gadhaan.

Dhibaatada iyo saameynta caafimaad ee uu cudurkani leeyahay waxaa kamid ah:

1. Caabuqa sanbabka (pneumonia) kaas oo keena in isbitaalka la isku dhigo, waana sababaha ugu waawayn ee ay carruurtu ugu dhintaan cudurka jadeecada, ama isbitaal in mudo ah loo seexiyo.

2. Barar maskaxda ah (encephalitis) ayaa iman kara, kaas oo horseedaya suuxdin, dhago beeli rasmi ah ama laxaad la’aan ku dhacda garaadka qofka.

SIDEE AYEEY CARRUURTU KU QAADI KARAAN JADEECADA?

Jadeecadu badanaa waxaa keena fayrus faafa oo ku dhaca tobankii qof sagaal qof oo ah kuwa aanan laga talaalin. Fayruska jadeecadu waxa uu ku gudbaa hawada maadama uu qufac iyo hindhiso wato. Carruurta qaaday jadeecadu waxay neefsadaan hawo uu la socdo fayruska cudurka keena. Qofka cudurkani uu ku dhacay marka uu taabto meel, tusaale ahaan marka ay taabtaan indhahooda, sankooda ama afkaba waxa ay ku reebaan fayruska. Dadku waxay dadka kale qaad siin karaan ama ku faafin karaan laga bilaabo maalinta afraad iyo wixii ka danbeeya oo dhan.

SIDEE LOO DAAWEYN KARAA JADEECADA?

Ma jirto dawo fayruska lagu dilo uu u gaar ah oo lagu dawayn karo caabuqa jadeecada. Balse waxaa jira ka hortag uu talaalku know ka yahay iyo isticmaalka Fiitaamiin A-ga oo taakulo kaalmo ah keeni kara. Balse Fiitaamiin A-gu kama hortago ama ma daweeyo jadeecada.Waxa ugu wanaagsan ee la hubo ee kahortaga keena waa Talaalka MMR-ka.

MAXAY QOYSKU SAMAYN KARAAN SI AY UGA HORTAGAAN JADEECADA?

• Talaalka MMR ayaa ah qaabka ugu wanaagsan ee la iskaga ilaalin karo jadeecada. MMR waa talaal amaan ah oo wax ku ool ah. Laba xadi ama laba jeer oo kala duwan oo Talaalka MMR-ka ah ayaa boqolkiiba 97% kahortagi kara jadeecada. Eeg ama waydii dhakhtarka carruutaada diiwaankaaga talaalka cunugaaga si aad u xaqiijiso in MMR iyo talaalada kale ee ay carruurtaadu qaateen. Carruurtu waxay u baahan tahay laba xadi oo talaalka MMR-ka ah; xadiga kowaad ama midka koobaad waxaa la siiyaa marka ay yihiin 12-15 bilood jir ka labaadna waxaa lasiiyaa mark ay lix sanno jir yihiin.

• La soco oo horay u qorshee haddii qoyskaagu uu diyaar u yahay in uu safar caalami ah oo wadanka looga baxo uu galo. Carruurta yaryar ee 6 bilood kayar waxay qaadan karaan talaalka MMR-ka ka hor inta ayna safrin si aad u taxadartaan oo caafimaadkooda u ilaalisaan. Carruurta waawayn waxay sidoo kale haboon in ay qaataan xadiga labaad ama qaybta labaad ee talaalka MMR-ka. Kala hadal dhakhtarka kuu daryeela carruurta wixii khatar ah ee carruurtu kala kulmi karaan socdaalka iyo safarka aad galeysaan.

• Waxaa dhici karta in ay jiraan xubno qoyskaaga ah oo aan lasiin karin talaalka MMR-ka oo ay ku jiraan carruurta, dumarka uurka leh iyo dad kale oo difaaca jidhkoodu diciif yahay sababo la xiriira caafimaadkooda. Haddaba haddii ay qoyskaaga kamid yihiin dad ku sugan marxaladahan caafimaad, fadlan la xiriir dhakhtarkaaga, kalana tasho safarka aad galayso iyo sidii aad caafimaad ahaan isku badbaadin lahaydeen.

Halkan kala soco warbixinta caafimaad ee ku saabsan faafitaanka Jadeecada iyo macluumaad muhiim ah oo la xiriira:

https://www.health.state.mn.us/diseases/measles/index.html

HADDABA HADII AAD QABTO SU’AALO LA XIRIIRA FAAFITAANKA CAABUQA JADEECADA AMA AKHBAAR DHEERAAD AH AAD U BAAHAN TAHAY FADLAN LA XIRIIR WAAXDA CAAFIMAADKA EE GOBOLKA MINNESOTA ADIGA OO WACAYA TALEEFANKA QAYBTA KA HORTAGA CUDURADA FAAFA 651-201-5414

AMA LA XIRIIR DHAKHTARKA DARYEELA QOYSKA IYO CARRUURTAADA.

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Minnesota overdose deaths held steady in 2022

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Widespread naloxone availability is a key response to average of three deaths a day

Overdose deaths held steady from 2021 to 2022, 1,356 to 1,343, marking a plateau after several years of sharp increases, according to the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Statewide Trends in Drug Overdose: Preliminary 2022 Data Update (PDF). At the same time, the preliminary data showed fentanyl-related overdoses continued to take a tragic toll, keeping deaths at a historically high level. 

Fentanyl, which is more deadly and 50 times more potent than heroin, has made Minnesota’s drug supply more dangerous. Fentanyl is now involved in 92% of all opioid-involved deaths and 62% of all overdose deaths in Minnesota, according to preliminary 2022 data. Opioid-involved deaths increased 3% (977 to 1002 deaths) from 2021 to 2022, according to preliminary data. 

“We are responding to the more deadly threat of fentanyl with several new tools for saving lives that were passed by the Legislature in 2023, such as expanding the availability of naloxone, and covering the costs of having it on hand, in school buildings, treatment programs, and during emergency and law enforcement calls,” said Minnesota Commissioner of Health Dr. Brooke Cunningham. 

Meanwhile, deaths involving prescribed opioids, heroin and methadone decreased. Deaths involving heroin fell to a 10-year low, decreasing 56% (103 to 45 deaths) between 2021 and 2022.

Psychostimulants (e.g., methamphetamine) and cocaine also contributed to the number of drug overdose deaths. Cocaine-involved deaths saw the largest increase of any drug category, increasing 27% (165 to 210 deaths).

Drug overdoses have a larger impact on individuals, families and communities than deaths alone. For every one drug overdose death, there were nearly 13 nonfatal drug overdoses in 2022. The number of hospital-treated nonfatal overdoses remained relatively stable, decreasing 5% from 2021 to 2022 (17,792 to 16,934 overdoses), according to the data brief. 

Governor Tim Walz and Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan’s 2023 One Minnesota Budget included over $200 million to address substance use and overdoses—with $50 million of that coming to MDH over the next four years. The investment addresses prevention, harm reduction, treatment and recovery. Additionally, the governor and Legislature passed a policy to reduce drug overdose deaths by requiring all schools, law enforcement officials, emergency responders and residential treatment programs to have naloxone on hand. MDH and the Minnesota Department of Education have posted a toolkit to help schools obtain cost-free naloxone and implement the new requirement. 

Additional state-led activities include expanding medication-assisted treatment, establishing new peer recovery support systems and launching the MN Naloxone Portal where mandated groups can access no-cost naloxone. Collaboration with other state agencies and federal funding partners help make this overdose and substance use response work possible.

-MDH-

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