“Preventing tobacco use among our young people is critical to the health of the nation,” task force member Dr. Michael Silverstein said in an organization news release. “All youth are at risk for tobacco use and should be provided with interventions to help prevent them from ever starting.”
If young people are using e-cigs instead of regular cigarettes, this is already a victory for public health as the harm done is being significantly minimized.
The problematic aspect of this statement is that vaping products are being referred to as tobacco products, and therefore their harm reduction advantage for those who smoke is not being taken into consideration.
In what is the most significant change in a draft statement updating the 2013 recommendations on steps care providers should take to stop tobacco use in kids, the task force, an independent, volunteer panel of experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, is also calling for more research on ways to help young people quit using tobacco.
The organization also said, that to date effective ways to help young people quit tobacco have not been identified. “Helping youth quit using tobacco is vital to their health,” said task force member Dr. Chien-Wen Tseng. “Unfortunately, studies have not yet identified effective ways to help children and teens quit, and the task force is calling for more research in this area.”
Sadly, the organization is failing to take into consideration that if young people are using vaping products or other electronic devices instead of regular cigarettes, this is already a victory for public health as the harm done is being significantly minimized.
Read Further: Medical Press
