American Academy of Pediatrics calls on FDA to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco.
Many public health professionals are increasingly concerned about the rapid adoption of e-cigarettes by teens. Now the nation’s leading group of pediatricians is calling for stronger rules to protect teens and younger children from “vaping.”
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) released its policy statement earlier this week, according to CBS News. The doctors’ group is calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to regulate e-cigarettes as tobacco, in line with its authority to regulate traditional cigarettes.
E-cigarette use among teens and young adults is skyrocketing. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a 2014 survey of young adults found that they use e-cigarettes more than any other tobacco products.
Experts say that nicotine delivered by any tobacco products including e-cigarettes can be especially damaging to teens’ developing brains.
In addition to raising the age for purchasing e-cigarettes to 21, 1he AAP is calling for stronger regulations including banning advertising to children and teens, and banning candy-flavored and other flavored products that are directed at children.
Such practices are already forbidden for companies that sell traditional cigarettes.
Nicotine is also highly toxic if ingested, yet many e-cigarettes and “e-liquids” are sold without child proof packaging. Poison center calls relating to nicotine incidents have increased dramatically, due to the rise of the e-cigarette market.
The AAP is calling for requiring child proof packaging, and also for expanding smoke-free laws to include e-cigarettes.