The Food and Drug Administration has been verbalizing for quite sometime its desire to curb smoking and vaping among youth. Recently, the FDA announced plans to ban menthol cigarettes, many flavored small cigars and to move forward with restrictions on sales of sweet-flavored electronic cigarette liquid.
Statistics from the 2018 National Youth Tobacco Survey:
E-cigarette consumption is up 78 percent among high-school students and 48 percent among middle-school students from 2017 to 2018.
The total number of middle and high school students using e-cigarettes rose to 3.6 million, an increase of 1.5 million students. FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb calls the use of nicotine-delivering e-cigarettes by today’s youth “epidemic”.
Public health officials fear that teens will try cigarettes when their e-vape devices are not available-trading one vice for a potentially more damaging other.
E-cigarettes may contain harmful substances. But the types or concentrations of chemicals a person is exposed to will vary by brand, type of device, and how it is used.
The FDA has not approved e-cigarettes as a way to quit smoking. The FDA recommends evidence-based methods for breaking free from the addiction. The Centers for Disease Control offers a Parent Tip Sheet with suggestions on talking with your children about e-cigarette consumption.
Mental Health Stats: NAMI reports that 60 percent of those with depression smoke and the number increases to 90 percent among those with schizophrenia. Nicotine’s positive affect on mood is measurable, although not everyone benefits. Adding to the dangers of smoking is the fact that kicking the habit after it is started is one of the most difficult addictions to break.
Source: Gary R’nel
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