Suffolk County medical doctors and health professionals today urged bi-partisan passage of IR 2128 in the Suffolk County Legislature that would ban the sale of flavored vapor products. The bill, which has been introduced by Legislator William “Doc” Spencer, who is also a fellow physician, is the latest measure put forth in Suffolk County to reduce the harmful impact on vaping in young adults. According to Center for Disease Control (CDC), vaping among teens increased 900 percent between 2011 and 2015.
A copy of the letter can be found below:
Dear County Legislators,
As medical experts and health professionals, we are writing to urge you to adopt the proposed bill (IR 2128) that would limit the flavoring of liquid nicotine and e-cigarettes sold in Suffolk County. In doing so, this will protect the health, safety, and welfare of our most vulnerable, especially our children.
After years of a steady decline in nicotine addiction and cigarette sales, the introduction of e-cigarettes and vaporizers has reversed this trend. This is not an be accident. Our youth have been targeted by manufacturers that sell flavored liquid nicotine for vaporizers with colorful packaging that are attractive and glamorize vaping.
This issue has already prompted federal public health agencies to intervene. According to the United States Center for Disease Control, e-cigarette use among high school students spiked 900 percent between 2011 and 2015. Furthermore, in 2014, 73 percent of high school students and 56 percent of middle school students who used tobacco products in the preceding 30 days, reported using a flavored tobacco product during that time. Today, e-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among youth.
Worse yet is that our youth do not recognize the inherent dangers that these devices present. This is a major public health risk, with teenagers facing an extremely high chance of developing A nicotine addiction. This can ultimately harm the developing brain and make them more likely to try cigarettes, -- even increasing The risk for addiction to other drugs.
We must take immediate action to curb the use of these products among our youth. By banning the flavors targeted to our children, we can reduce the interest of our youth in using these products, while still allowing adults the option to continue using e-cigarettes and vaporizers with traditional flavors such as mint, methanol, and tobacco.
Suffolk County stands to be the national model for how local governments can appropriately deal with the issue of vaping. With a new generation facing this harmful addiction, the time for action is now. Once again, we urge you to adopt this critical legislation.
Sincerely,
Dr. Steve Goldstein, President, American Academy of Pediatrics, New York Chapter 2
Dr. Shetal Shah, Vice President, American Academy of Pediatrics, New York Chapter 2
Dr. Eve Meltzer Krief, Executive and Legislative Advocacy Committees, American Academy of Pediatrics, New York Chapter 2
Dr. Theresa Scott, Pediatrician
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