Leading Health Organizations Make the Case for Tobacco 21

ALBANY, NY -- Feb. 26, 2019 – The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids today kicked off a campaign to present 21 reasons to each New York State lawmaker on the importance of enacting legislation to prohibit the sale of tobacco to those younger than 21. One message presented in compelling graphic form will be delivered each day. This legislation is commonly referred to as Tobacco 21.

The first reason delivered today presents a photo of a teenage girl and says, “E-cigarette use by New York youth increased 160 percent from 2014 to 2018.”

A Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) report says tobacco use among middle and high school students rose nearly 40 percent in one year driven largely by the overwhelming increase in youth e-cigarette use. According to the report, 4.9 million middle and high school students say they are current tobacco product users, up from 3.6 million in 2017. In addition, progress on previously declining youth use of other tobacco products, like cigarettes and cigars, has stalled.

Approximately 75 percent of New York State residents now live in localities that have adopted laws to prohibit the sale of tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, to anyone under 21. The American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN), the American Heart Association, the American Lung Association and Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids believe the time is now to protect all New Yorkers, especially young people.