Speaking Out: A Moment of Personal Privilege

Serving on the North Carolina Child Fatality Task Force has been one of the most meaningful roles of my career. This 35-member body operates during the legislative session and works tirelessly to make data-driven recommendations to the North Carolina General Assembly for informed statute and policy making. Our mission is clear: Protect children and prevent fatalities through sound policy.

The Task Force is divided into three subcommittees, including the Unintentional Death Committee, which I am honored to co-chair—it’s where my heart is.

Over the years, I’ve seen firsthand how policy can save lives; initiatives like North Carolina’s graduated driver’s license began here. Today, one of the most urgent issues we face is youth access to tobacco and cannabis products, including vaping devices.

Through this work, I’ve learned just how pervasive this problem has become. I recently met a courageous young woman named Dabney Ferris from Wake County. At just 15, all she needed was money and transportation to get THC and vaping products. She became addicted to vaping cannabis, struggled through treatment, and is now clean. Today, she shares her story to educate policymakers and peers, which serves as a powerful reminder of what’s at stake.

Unfortunately, Dabney’s story is not unique. We have kids as young as fifth grade selling vapes at school, and many 12- to 15-year-olds are hooked. Schools confiscate devices daily. The consequences are real: chronic cough, declining grades, and disrupted learning environments. Some schools have resorted to locking bathrooms to curb vaping.

So why is this happening? As you are most likely aware in your own communities, vape shops are seemingly everywhere. There are no regulations for shop locations or the products sold inside them, which include tobacco and THC items. Anyone can walk in—carding is inconsistent. Further, the packaging is very eye-catching and marketed at younger consumers, with many products packaged to look nearly identical to well-known brands of candy.

While our hands are often tied as municipal officials, I believe it’s important to educate ourselves about the public health issues facing our communities. That’s why I hope you’ll join me at CityVision this May 6-7, at the Raleigh Convention Center, for a workshop that dives deeper into the research and work that my colleagues and I at the Child Fatality Task Force are advancing. From education grows understanding, concern and ultimately action. I want our communities to be safe for my grandchildren and yours. If not us, then who will protect these kids?