Surgeon General's Report Highlights Urgency to Protect Youth from Electronic Cigarettes

WASHINGTON, D.C. – December 8, 2016 – The U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy today released a new report, E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults, to address the significant health threat electronic cigarettes pose on our nation’s youth and young adults.

Following is a statement from Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network (ACS CAN):

“We applaud the Surgeon General for bringing attention to the serious public health problem of youth use of e-cigarettes and the resulting adverse health effects. The report issues a call to action for parents, teachers, scientists, the public health community, policymakers and the tobacco industry to take precautionary measures now to prevent e-cigarette use and future impact from these products among youth and young adults.

“Starting with the historic 1964 U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Smoking and Health, the Surgeon General has provided Americans with science-based information on the tobacco crisis facing our nation. Since that first report, we’ve seen tremendous progress in reducing tobacco’s toll on our nation’s health. In recent years, there have been declines in the youth cigarette smoking rate, but evidence shows that e-cigarettes are increasing in popularity. E-cigarettes are now the most commonly used tobacco product among youth. The new report concludes that e-cigarette use by younger populations is strongly associated with the use of other tobacco products as well, including cigarettes.

“The report states that the use of any products containing nicotine among youth, including e-cigarettes, is unsafe. Exposure to nicotine poses unique health risks to adolescents and young adults because their brains are still developing, therefore increasing their vulnerability to health and mental risks such as addiction, reduced impulse control, deficits in attention and cognition, and mood disorders.

“This report is just the latest example of why we must continue to invest in comprehensive tobacco prevention and cessation programs at all levels of government that help reduce all forms of tobacco use, including e-cigarettes for youth and young adults. Additionally, comprehensive smoke-free laws should always include e-cigarettes. The report also documents that advertising and marketing, as well as flavoring of e-cigarettes, make them attractive to youth.

“Upholding the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authority to regulate all tobacco products is another crucial matter to protect public health from the harms of tobacco. Earlier this year, the FDA asserted its authority over all tobacco products. Lawmakers should reject the tobacco industry’s requests to undo several key aspects of the FDA’s oversight authority including, allowing e-cigarettes and cigars to remain on store shelves without an initial FDA public health review. Additionally, Congress should reject efforts to exclude some cheap, including some flavored cigars from any regulation whatsoever.

“ACS CAN will continue advocating for tobacco control policies at the local, state and federal levels that protect youth and other populations from harmful effects of tobacco.

“As noted in the report, lawmakers play a key role in the comprehensive approach needed to reduce e-cigarette use and access among youth and young adults. With this important national focus on e-cigarette use and youth, it is essential for all elected officials to do what’s best for public health and protect and improve strong tobacco control policies.”

About ACS CAN
ACS CAN, the nonprofit, nonpartisan advocacy affiliate of the American Cancer Society, supports evidence-based policy and legislative solutions designed to eliminate cancer as a major health problem. ACS CAN works to encourage elected officials and candidates to make cancer a top national priority. ACS CAN gives ordinary people extraordinary power to fight cancer with the training and tools they need to make their voices heard. For more information, visit www.fightcancer.org.

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