Bipartisan Action To Prevent ‘A New Generation At Risk’

‘E-Cigarette Use Among U.S. Youth And Young Adults Is Now A Major Public Health Concern’

CDC Director ROBERT REDFIELD, MD: “The skyrocketing growth of young people’s e-cigarette use over the past year threatens to erase progress made in reducing youth tobacco use. It’s putting a new generation at risk for nicotine addiction.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Press Release, 2/11/2019)

• DR. REDFIELD: “Youth use of any tobacco product, including e-cigarettes, is unsafe.” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Press Release, 2/11/2019)

• Former Surgeon General VIVEK MURTHY, MD: “E-cigarette use among U.S. youth and young adults is now a major public health concern.” (“E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

Former CDC Director THOMAS FRIEDEN, MD, MPH: “E-cigarettes are tobacco products that deliver nicotine. Nicotine is a highly addictive substance, and many of today’s youth who are using e-cigarettes could become tomorrow’s cigarette smokers. Nicotine exposure can also harm brain development in ways that may affect the health and mental health of [children].” (“E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

CDC: ‘Tobacco Product Use Among US Youth Is Increasing… Driven By An Increase In E-Cigarette Use’

“Tobacco product use among US youth is increasing. More than 1 in 4 high school students and about 1 in 14 middle school students in 2018 had used a tobacco product in the past 30 days.” (“Tobacco Use By Youth Is Rising,” CDC Vital Signs, CDC Website, Accessed 5/20/2019)

• “Use of any tobacco product grew by 38.3% among high school students (2017-2018).” (“Tobacco Use By Youth Is Rising,” CDC Vital Signs, CDC Website, Accessed 5/20/2019)

• “This was a considerable increase from 2017, which was driven by an increase in e-cigarette use.” (“Tobacco Use By Youth Is Rising,” CDC Vital Signs, CDC Website, Accessed 5/20/2019)

“There were 1.5 million more current youth e-cigarette users in 2018 than 2017.” (“Tobacco Use By Youth Is Rising,” CDC Vital Signs, CDC Website, Accessed 5/20/2019)

• “E-cigarette use increased from 11.7% to 20.8% among high school students and from 3.3% to 4.9% among middle school students from 2017 to 2018. No change was found in the use of other tobacco products, including cigarettes, during this time.” (“Tobacco Use By Youth Is Rising,” CDC Vital Signs, CDC Website, Accessed 5/20/2019)

‘The Initiation Age Of Tobacco Use Is Critical’

“The initiation age of tobacco use is critical. Among adults who become daily smokers, approximately 90 percent report first use of cigarettes before reaching 19 years of age …” (“Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products,” Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, National Academy of Sciences, 3/2015)

• “E-cigarette use is strongly associated with the use of other tobacco products among youth and young adults, particularly the use of combustible tobacco products.” (“E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

Nicotine From E-Cigarettes Can Cause Addiction, Primes The Developing Brain For Addiction To Other Substances, And Increases Mood Disorders Like Anxiety And Depression

“The ability of e?cigarettes to deliver comparable or higher amounts of nicotine compared to conventional cigarettes raises concerns about e?cigarette use generating nicotine dependence among young people.” (“E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

• “Nicotine exposure during adolescence can cause addiction and can harm the developing adolescent brain.” (“E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

“E-cigarettes can expose users to several chemicals, including nicotine, carbonyl compounds, and volatile organic compounds, known to have adverse health effects.” (“E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

“The potential adverse health effects for youth who inhale e?cigarette aerosol include those on the body from acute administration of nicotine, flavorants, chemicals, other particulates, and additional effects, such as (1) nicotine addiction; (2) developmental effects on the brain from nicotine exposure, which may have implications for cognition, attention, and mood; (3) e?cigarette influence initiating or supporting the use of conventional cigarettes and dual use of conventional cigarettes and e?cigarettes; (4) e?cigarette influence on subsequent illicit drug use; (5) e?cigarette effects on psychosocial health, particularly among youth with one or more comorbid mental health disorders; and (6) battery explosion and accidental overdose of nicotine.” (“E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

Public Health Experts Recommend ‘Raising And Strongly Enforcing Minimum Age-Of-Sale Laws For All Tobacco Products, Including E-Cigarettes’

Surgeon General’s Report: “The harms of nicotine exposure in youth and young adults are well-documented in this report and warrant this Call to Action…. A comprehensive strategy includes: … Raising and strongly enforcing minimum age-of-sale laws for all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to prevent initiation at young ages …” (“E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults: A Report of the Surgeon General,” U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016)

Institute Of Medicine Report: “Based on its review of the literature, the [Committee on the Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age for Purchasing Tobacco Products] concludes that overall, increasing the [minimum legal age] for tobacco products will likely prevent or delay initiation of tobacco use by adolescents and young adults. The age group most impacted will be those age 15 to 17 years. The committee also concludes that the impact of raising the [minimum legal age] to 21 will likely be substantially higher than raising it to 19.” (“Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products,” Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, National Academy of Sciences, 3/2015)

• “[T]he committee is reasonably confident that raising the MLA will reduce tobacco use initiation, particularly among adolescents 15 to 17 years of age; improve the health of Americans across the lifespan; and save lives.” (“Public Health Implications of Raising the Minimum Age of Legal Access to Tobacco Products,” Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, National Academy of Sciences, 3/2015)