Dear editor,

Most people are unaware that Sunday, July 24, is National Parents’ Day. This day was established for recognizing and supporting the role that parents have in raising their children. On this day communities, organizations, churches, and other groups not only honor parents but encourage families everywhere to invest in our children.

Parents are always thinking about their kids’ safety. How many times have you said yourself, “Look both ways before you cross the street,” or had even more serious conversations about something like texting and driving? Another conversation that is worth having with your kids is that just because tobacco products come in sweet, candy-like flavors, it does not mean they are safe.

Recently, while taking inventory of products in our community, our coalition members found a tower of flavored cigars on the sales floor next to a candy display. The brightly packaged cigars came in grape, tropical fusion, strawberry, and many other sweet, candy-like flavors that are proven to be attractive to kids.

These products are not going unnoticed by our kids. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, seven out of 10 middle and high school students who currently use tobacco have used a flavored product, and of the students who use e-cigarettes, more than 1.5 million of them use flavored e-cigarettes.

A parent’s work is never done. There are many conversations about safety that take place whether it is about making sure they fasten their seat belt or helping them avoid deceptive candy-flavored tobacco products.

Destinee Coenen

Central Wisconsin Tobacco Free Coalition