American Lung Association Urges Texas Legislature to Push Forward to Address Youth E-cigarette ‘Epidemic’
HOUSTON (November 15, 2018) – Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced it intends to take a historic step forward in reducing the death and disease caused by tobacco use in our nation. The agency announced a multipronged approach on tobacco: its intent to end the sale of menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, while also implementing restrictions on e-cigarette sales in certain locations. However, FDA’s response to protecting youth from e-cigarettes will not be sufficient in light of the startling new data released today on youth e-cigarette use, according to the American Lung Association. The American Lung Association in Texas encourages Texas legislators to address this epidemic by raising the tobacco sale age to 21.
“With today’s announcement, the FDA is taking an important step forward in the effort to reduce tobacco use and protect the nation’s health,” said JoAnna Strother, American Lung Association in Texas Director of Advocacy. “However, this effort stands in the shadow of a new report showing skyrocketing use of e-cigarettes by kids. The American Lung Association calls on the legislature to take swift action to protect kids from this e-cigarette epidemic and a lifetime of nicotine addiction and by raising the tobacco sale age to 21.”
Today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also announced that youth use of e-cigarettes has skyrocketed, with a 78 percent increase in high school students’ use of e-cigarettes since last year – meaning that one in five high school students are using e-cigarettes. It also shows a nearly 50 percent increase in the use of e-cigarettes by middle school students since 2017. While reducing youth access to e-cigarettes is an important step, the Lung Association continues to urge the FDA to use its full authority to protect kids, including ending the sales of all flavored tobacco products, including all flavored e-cigarettes, from the marketplace. And in the meantime, the Lung Association is calling on states including Texas to take action now.
Tobacco is still the number one preventable cause of death in Texas and the United States. The American Lung Association is working as part of Texas Tobacco 21,a coalition of organizations and community partners, to save lives by preventing tobacco use.
For media interested in speaking with an expert about lung health, tobacco use and tobacco policies, contact the American Lung Association at James.Martinez@Lung.org or 312-445-2501 and to learn more about e-cigarettes visit Lung.org/ecigs.
###
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.