VALLEY CITY, N.D. (CCHD) – City-County Health District (CCHD) is excited to announce the winner of the Flavor-Free Valley City coloring contest.

The artwork by Hannah Johnson, age 7 was selected as the winner of “Look at Me, I’m Flavor Free!” coloring contest. The winning artwork was featured on a Flavor-Free VC billboard during the week of March 6th. In the sketch, Hannah shows a child on a hoverboard while another child goes down the slide. A golden dog joins them in the park.

“Flavor-Free VC helps to protect youth from the harmful effects of e-cigarettes. Since more than 8 in 10 youth e-cigarette users use flavored products, the goal is to reduce products that are specifically marketed to youth,“ states Theresa Will, CCHD Administrator. E-cigarettes have high levels of nicotine. Nicotine exposure during adolescence can harm the developing brain – which isn’t done developing until age 25. Nicotine is a chemical in e-cigarettes that makes it hard to quit.

Organized by City-County Health District, Flavor-Free VC is a campaign focused on ensuring that Valley City continues to restrict the sale of flavored vape products. “As a family-friendly community it is important that we look out for our children. We know that if these products were to be sold in Valley City the vaping use among youth would increase,” states Kaitlen Lee, RN and Tobacco Cessation Specialist at City-County Health District.

Valley City was the first city in North Dakota to end the sale of flavored e-liquids used for vaping. Other communities have adopted the same protections or are looking to follow suit. For more information, contact City-County Health District at 845-8518.