Compadres Fresh Air Podcast: Recent Episodes
by Ricardo Nevarez
The Compadres Fresh Air Podcast is meant to bring you good conversations and interviews with experts surrounding vaping and smoking. Years of experience come together in short episodes to help you gain insight into the world of tobacco use and prevention. Episodes will cover the effects of tobacco and nicotine on youth and young adults. Discussions will help you learn more about laws & ordinances, emerging products, secondhand exposure, thirdhand exposure, quit resources, and more.
Mt. San Antonio College provides the full college experience without the full college debt. As one of the largest community colleges in California, Mt. SAC is known for providing a top-tier education and extensive student services.
The campus sits on 420 rolling acres in Walnut, California, located on the eastern edge of the Greater Los Angeles Area. The city of Walnut is considered one of the Best Small Towns to Live In by Money Magazine. A diverse suburb, Walnut is known for its nationally renowned schools and equestrian community. The city combines the charms of rural living with the benefits of being just 25 miles from Downtown Los Angeles and its incredible cultural and recreational activities.
Mt. San Antonio College serves everyone, from residents to working professionals and international students. Its local College District boundaries encompass the communities of Baldwin Park, Bassett, Charter Oak, Covina, Diamond Bar, the southern portion of Glendora, Hacienda Heights, City of Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, La Verne, Pomona, Rowland Heights, San Dimas, Valinda, Walnut, and West Covina.
https://www.mtsac.edu/about/overview.html
Mt. San Antonio College is committed to providing a safe and healthy environment for its students, employees, and visitors. Considering evidence that the use of tobacco and nicotine, as well as exposure to secondhand smoke and aerosol (commonly referred to as “vapor”) from electronic smoking devices pose significant health and environmental hazards, the College has established a smoke, vapor, and tobacco-free environment.
https://www.mtsac.edu/governance/trustees/apbp/AP3565.pdf
The Fresh Air Mounties (FAM) is a group of students at Mt. San Antonio College that began advocating for a fresh air campus policy in 2020.
https://www.compadreslac.org/fam
On November 8, 2022, California voters upheld the state law, Senate Bill (SB) 793.
This bill would prohibit a tobacco retailer, or any of the tobacco retailer’s agents or employees, from selling, offering for sale, or possessing with the intent to sell or offer for sale, a flavored tobacco product or a tobacco product flavor enhancer, as those terms are defined, except as specified. The bill would make a violation of this prohibition an infraction punishable by a fine of $250 for each violation. The bill would state the intent of the Legislature that these provisions do not preempt or prohibit the adoption and implementation of local ordinances that impose greater restrictions on the access to tobacco products than the restrictions imposed by the bill.
(https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billNavClient.xhtml?bill_id=201920200SB793)
Lots of studies have been done about the benefits of quitting smoking. Decades of research have found several good reasons to quit, including health and financial benefits that can save lives and money. While it’s best to quit as early in life as possible, quitting at any age can lead to a better health and lifestyle.
The sooner you quit, the more you can reduce your chances of getting cancer and other diseases.
(https://www.cancer.org/healthy/stay-away-from-tobacco/benefits-of-quitting-smoking-over-time.html)
Vape waste is waste associated with vapes, including disposable vapes, pods or cartridges, e-liquid containers and packaging, and vape batteries. Vape waste is especially bad for the environment because it is three forms of waste in one: plastic waste, hazardous waste, and electronic waste (e-waste). All of these are hazardous for the environment.
Vapes create plastic waste. The device body and pod components are made of plastic. Plastic is an environmental problem because it doesn’t biodegrade like organic materials do – it can take up to hundreds of years for some plastic items to decompose. Vapes are also a toxic waste because of the heavy metals in the vape and the nicotine in the e-juice. Finally, vapes are e-waste since they contain lithium-ion batteries and a heating element.
(https://www.undo.org/environmental-impact/vape-waste-is-toxic-waste)
Cigarette butts are the most common toxic waste found in beach and waterway cleanups and the number one item found on California highways. This is dangerous for many reasons, including, 1)cigarette butts are poisonous when ingested by children or animals; 2) the toxic chemicals in cigarette butts are a threat to our aquatic ecosystems; and 3) the substances that leach out are highly toxic to freshwater micro-organisms.
Smoking also poses a direct threat to our forests, homes, and parks. Discarded cigarette butts have been linked to large wildfires, resulting in the destruction of wildlife, vegetation, and property. Cigarette-induced fires can burn hundreds of acres of land and have done so all over the state.
(https://www.undo.org/environmental-impact/cigarette-butts-are-toxic-waste)
Thirdhand smoke (THS) is a term used to describe the residual contamination from tobacco smoke that lingers in rooms long after smoking stops and remains on our clothes after we leave a smoky place. It may seem merely like an offensive smell, but it is also indicative of the presence of tobacco toxins.
Thirdhand smoke consists of the tobacco residue from cigarettes, cigars, and other tobacco products that is left behind after smoking and builds up on surfaces and furnishings. Tobacco smoke is composed of numerous types of gasses and particulate matter, including carcinogens and heavy metals, like arsenic, lead, and cyanide. Sticky, highly toxic particulates, like nicotine, can cling to walls and ceilings. Gases can be absorbed into dust in a room, carpets, draperies, and other fabrics or upholsteries.
(no-smoke.org/smokefree-threats/thirdhand-smoke/)
Secondhand smoke is a serious health hazard causing more than 41,000 deaths per year. It can cause or make worse a wide range of damaging health effects in children and adults, including lung cancer, respiratory infections and asthma. There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke and even short-term exposure potentially can increase the risk of heart attacks.
(https://www.lung.org/quit-smoking/smoking-facts/health-effects/secondhand-smoke)
You can find more information about the laws protecting the public from exposure to secondhand smoke from The American Lung Association by going to www.lung.org/policy-advocacy/tobacco/smokefree-environments
This episode helps provide more insight on how vaping affects teens, reasons why teens should quit vaping, coping with cravings, and how they can quit or where they can find help to quit.
The use of e-cigarettes is unsafe for kids, teens, and young adults. With most e-cigarettes containing highly addictive nicotine, it can harm adolescent brain development, which continues into the early to mid-20s. E-cigarettes can contain other harmful substances besides nicotine. Young people who use e-cigarettes may be more likely to smoke cigarettes in the future.
(https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm)
For many people, dealing with cravings is one of the hardest parts of quitting vaping. That’s why it’s important to have a plan for how to deal with cravings when they hit. At teens.smokefree.gov you can find additional tips for dealing with cravings.
(https://teen.smokefree.gov/quit-vaping/deal-with-vape-cravings)
Websites mentioned during this episode are:
Kidshealth.org
CDC.gov
Truthinitiative.org
Tobaccofreekids.org
Lung.org
Teen.smokefree.gov
CompadresLAC.org
No matter how it's delivered, nicotine is harmful for youth and young adults. E-cigarettes typically contain nicotine as well as other chemicals that are known to damage health.
(e-cigarettes.surgeongeneral.gov)
The Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids National Youth Ambassadors are high school students who have demonstrated leadership in fighting tobacco in their communities. These advocates are chosen annually as representatives of their state through a competitive application process.
(tobaccofreekids.org)
California Youth Advocacy Network Policy Ambassador Programs are becoming increasing popular as a way to increase compliance without the use of citations. The 2-hour training can be provided in person or via webinar to campus staff or student leaders that will be coordinating a Policy Ambassador Program on campus.
(https://www.cyanonline.org/college-program)
This is Quitting is a free and anonymous text messaging program from Truth Initiative designed to help young people quit vaping. The first-of-its-kind quit program incorporates messages from other young people like them who have attempted to, or successfully quit, e-cigarettes. Our messages show the real side of quitting, both the good and the bad, to help young people feel motivated, inspired and supported throughout their quitting process. We also send young people evidence-based tips and strategies to quit and stay quit. This is Quitting is tailored based on age (within 13 to 24 years old) and product usage to give teens and young adults appropriate recommendations about quitting.
(truthinitiative.org/thisisquitting)
The quitSTART app is a free smartphone app that helps you quit smoking with tailored tips, inspiration, and challenges.
(smokefree.gov/tools-tips/apps/quitstart)
SmokefreeTXT for Teens is for teens aged 13-17 in the United States who are ready to quit smoking. After you confirm your enrollment, you will receive daily text messages to support you in quitting smoking.
(teen.smokefree.gov)
In this episode, get some facts and history on electronic smoking devices, which many know as vapes. In less than 10 minutes, you might get some useful info.
E-cigarettes are sometimes called “e-cigs,” “vapes,” “e-hookahs,” “vape pens,” and “electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS).” Some e-cigarettes look like regular cigarettes, cigars, or pipes. Some look like USB flash drives, pens, and other everyday items.
(https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/index.htm)
If you want to set up your quit plan, check out Kick It California. It's a free program that helps Californians kick smoking, vaping, and smokeless tobacco with the help of proven, science-based strategies. Take the first step toward quitting.
(kickitca.org)
In this episode you'll listen in on some super short history of modern cigarettes and interesting facts on the growing, production, manufacturing, and components of cigarettes as well. Let's see what you can learn in under 10 minutes.
The basic components of most cigarettes are tobacco, chemical additives, a filter, and paper wrapping. Cigarettes are responsible for the vast majority of all tobacco-related disease and death in the United States. Smokers are exposed to a toxic mix of over 7,000 chemicals when they inhale cigarette smoke.
(https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/cigarettes)
If you want to set up your quit plan, check out Kick It California. It's a free program that helps Californians kick smoking, vaping, and smokeless tobacco with the help of proven, science-based strategies. Take the first step toward quitting.
(kickitca.org)
This yearly celebration informs the public on the dangers of using tobacco, the business practices of tobacco companies, what WHO is doing to fight the tobacco epidemic, and what people around the world can do to claim their right to health and healthy living and to protect future generations.
The Member States of the World Health Organization created World No Tobacco Day in 1987 to draw global attention to the tobacco epidemic and the preventable death and disease it causes. In 1987, the World Health Assembly passed Resolution WHA40.38, calling for 7 April 1988 to be a "a world no-smoking day." In 1988, Resolution WHA42.19 was passed, calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on 31 May.
(https://www.who.int/campaigns/world-no-tobacco-day)
Websites mentioned during this episode are:
The World Health Organization - who.int
Center for Disease Control and Prevention - cdc.gov
Smokefree.gov
Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids - tobaccofreekids.org
Undo.org
American Nonsmokers' Rights Foundation - no-smoke.org
American Cancer Society - cancer.org
American Lung Association - lung.org
Pan American Health Organization - paho.org/en
Founded in 1955, Cerritos College is one of the top community colleges in Los Angeles County offering comprehensive, high-quality, affordable education and career training. We are one of the five largest community colleges in Los Angeles County. We sit on 135 acres located in the City of Norwalk, near the intersection of Interstates 5, 605, and 105, and State Route 91. This makes the campus geographically convenient for students coming from Southeastern Los Angeles County and North Orange County. The District serves the cities of Artesia, Bellflower, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, La Mirada, Long Beach, Norwalk, Santa Fe Springs, and South Gate. An average of 22,000 students attend annually, and participate in over 180 areas of study and 87 degree and certificate programs.
https://www.cerritos.edu/about/default.htm
In June 2021, the California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN) and Campuses Organized & United for Good Health (COUGH) released the California Public College & University Smoke/Tobacco-Free Policy Report Card with Cerritos College receiving an "A+" grade for their fresh air policy.
https://catobaccofreecolleges.org/report-card
Cerritos Community College District's policy prohibits smoking, including the use of cigarettes, cigars, little cigars, snuff, snus, water pipes, pipes, hookahs, chew, electronic cigarettes, vaporized liquids, or other emission-producing products or devices.
https://www.cerritos.edu/board/_includes/docs/AP/AP_3570.pdf
The Falcon Fresh Air Peer Advocates (FFAPAs) is a group of students at Cerritos College that began advocating for a fresh air campus policy in 2018.
https://www.compadreslac.org/ffapa
Friday Night Live (FNL) addresses factors that cause students to become disengaged at school and helps create and maintain a positive school climate. Friday Night Live also assists schools in identifying problems and encourages alternatives to prevent alcohol and drug use.
https://www.lacoe.edu/Student-Services/Friday-Night-Live-AB-1729
Every year on April 22, Earth Day marks the anniversary of the birth of the modern environmental movement in 1970. Today, Earth Day is widely recognized as the largest secular observance in the world, marked by more than a billion people every year as a day of action to change human behavior and create global, national and local policy changes. www.earthday.org/history
E-cigarettes, including rechargeable batteries and the cartridges and bottles that contain e-liquids (liquid nicotine mixtures), can pose a threat to human health and to the environment if they are not disposed of properly. E-cigarette and e-liquid waste should not be thrown in the regular trash or flushed down a sink. Instead, these items should be taken safely to a hazardous waste facility. Tips for safe disposal of e-cigarette and e-liquid waste can be found at: https://www.fda.gov/tobacco-products/products-ingredients-components/tips-safe-disposal-e-cigarettes-and-e-liquid-waste
The Rio Hondo Community College District encompasses several communities in the southeast section of Los Angeles County. It is a dynamic urban and suburban area which also includes commercial, industrial, educational institutions, and enterprises. The primary communities are El Monte, Whittier, South El Monte, Pico Rivera, Santa Fe Springs, and Los Nietos. The nearby communities of Norwalk, La Mirada, Downey, La Puente, and the City of Industry are also an integral part of the College District. The area provides easy access to cultural, recreational, and diverse ethnic and cultural opportunities. https://www.riohondo.edu/president/about-us/
Rio Hondo Community College's current policy allows smoking and the use of e-cigarettes on campus in designated areas. https://www.riohondo.edu/president/wp-content/uploads/sites/27/2014/04/AP3570_SmokingonCampus.pdf
In June 2021, the California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN) and Campuses Organized & United for Good Health (COUGH) released the California Public College & University Smoke/Tobacco-Free Policy Report Card in where Rio Hondo Community College received a "D" grade for their smoking policy. https://catobaccofreecolleges.org/report-card
The Fresh Air At Rio (FAAR) coalition are a group of students from Rio Hondo College that are advocating for 100% smoke and tobacco-free campus policy including e-cigarettes. https://www.compadreslac.org/faar
Assembly Bill 1690 - Tobacco products: single-use components.
This bill would prohibit a person or entity from selling, giving, or furnishing to another person of any age in this state a cigarette utilizing a single-use filter made of any material, an attachable and single-use plastic device meant to facilitate manual manipulation or filtration of a tobacco product, or a single-use electronic cigarette or vaporizer device. The bill would prohibit that selling, giving, or furnishing, whether conducted directly or indirectly through an in-person transaction, or by means of any public or private method of shipment or delivery to an address in this state.
For more on bill go to: https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/billTextClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB1690
Mt. San Antonio College (Mt. SAC) serves everyone, from residents to working professionals and international students. Its local College District boundaries encompass the communities of Baldwin Park, Bassett, Charter Oak, Covina, Diamond Bar, the southern portion of Glendora, Hacienda Heights, City of Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, La Verne, Pomona, Rowland Heights, San Dimas, Valinda, Walnut, and West Covina. https://www.mtsac.edu/about/overview.html
Mt. SAC's current policy allows smoking on campus in designated smoking areas. https://www.mtsac.edu/governance/trustees/smoking.html
In June 2021, the California Youth Advocacy Network (CYAN) and Campuses Organized & United for Good Health (COUGH) released the California Public College & University Smoke/Tobacco-Free Policy Report Card in where Mt. SAC received a "D" grade for their smoking policy. https://catobaccofreecolleges.org/report-card
The Fresh Air Mounties (FAM) is a group of students from the Mt. San Antonio Community College that are advocating for a 100% smoke and tobacco-free campus policy including e-cigarettes. https://www.compadreslac.org/fam
Vaping is still fairly new. In our community, there are many questions surrounding the effects it has on youth, young adults, and everyone else. Whether you know someone that vapes or have seen someone vaping, there's a great chance that you have come across vaping in one way or another. Tune in to hear some vaping myths and learn the truths behind them.
You can learn more about vaping at: https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/basic_information/e-cigarettes/Quick-Facts-on-the-Risks-of-E-cigarettes-for-Kids-Teens-and-Young-Adults.html
The Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction cause by drugs in America. Today, the Red Ribbon serves as a catalyst to mobilize communities to educate youth and encourage participation in drug prevention activities. https://www.redribbon.org/
The RAD coalition serves the communities of Service Planning Area 3 (SPA 3) of Los Angeles County, roughly the San Gabriel Valley communities of Alhambra, Altadena, Arcadia, Azusa, Baldwin Park, Bradbury, Claremont, Covina, Diamond Bar, Duarte, El Monte, Glendora , Industry, Irwindale, La Puente, La Verne, Monrovia, Monterey Park, Pasadena, Pomona, Rosemead, San Dimas, San Gabriel, San Marino, Sierra Madre, South El Monte, South Pasadena, Temple City, Walnut, and West Covina. http://www.rad-sgv.org/
Day One is a community-based nonprofit organization with a 30 year history of providing effective, high quality and culturally-sensitive public health education, intervention, policy development and environmental prevention efforts. https://www.godayone.org/
SPIRITT Family Services provides crisis intervention, life skills and hope for a stable, nurturing and healthy family for families in eastern Los Angeles County. SPIRITT Family Services staff provides innovated, culturally-sensitive, evidence-based and compassionate solutions to children, youth, adults and families. https://www.spiritt.org/
NCADD provides substance abuse disorder prevention, intervention and treatment services, and an information resource to the San Gabriel & Pomona Valleys. Culturally and linguistically sensitive to Spanish speaking individuals, they provide both court and non-court ordered programs. https://www.ncaddesgpv.org/
Prototypes set the standard for comprehensive, integrated, evidence-based services. Their team of top professionals and dedicated staff provide residential and outpatient addiction treatment, detoxification, mental health services, prevention and education, vocational training and parenting support for men, women and children. https://www.prototypes.org/
Find us on Instagram @CompadresFreshAirPodcast
Vaping refers to the act of using an electronic device that heats up a liquid to create an aerosol that is inhaled. Some types of vaping devices include vape-pens, electronic cigarettes, and electronic hookahs. They can often be described as ESDs, Electronic Smoking Devices, or ENDS, Electronic Nicotine Delivery Systems. While vaping appears to be a healthier alternative to smoking cigarettes, there are still many health risks involved. Listen in to today’s episode to get some answers to pending questions.
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease through education, advocacy and research. Learn more at https://www.lung.org/
As fewer kids smoke traditional cigarettes, tobacco companies are enticing them with a booming market of sweet-flavored tobacco products, especially electronic cigarettes and cigars, according to a report issued by five leading public health organizations. Learn more about flavors at https://www.compadreslac.org/flavored-tobacco-products
Find us on Instagram @CompadresFreshAirPodcast
What exactly is the Compadres Program? Why is the work important? Does any of this really matter? This episode begins with a conversation into the purpose behind the creation of the Compadres Program. Listen in as I talk with Dr. Monica Sanchez, Project Director of the Compadres Program, and Lisbeth Garcia, former Community Engagement Coordinator for the Compadres Program.
Learn more at: https://www.compadreslac.org/
Hi, Compadres Fresh Air Podcast fans! I know you're looking forward to learning more about what the vaping and smoking industry doesn't want you to know. This podcast is part conversation, part interview, and will get answers to some difficult questions. I think you'll love it, but check out the trailer and decide for yourself.
Listen and subscribe to the Compadres Fresh Air Podcast today wherever you get your podcast!