Back in January, Gov. Cuomo had announced that he would include a proposal to raise the state’s minimum age to purchase tobacco and electronic cigarettes, in his 2019 executive budget.
The US Preventive Services Task Force is urging doctors to add e-cigarettes to their efforts in preventing young people from using tobacco.
At the time, this age limit had already been implemented in New York City and a number of counties across the state, including Nassau, Orange, Rockland, Suffolk and Westchester. Cuomo had added that he also wanted to clarify the health department’s authority to ban the sale of certain e-liquid flavours, except menthol, that could be enticing to the younger generation.
The governor had pointed out that New York has made “great strides” in the battle against teen smoking, however, he added, new products are threatening this progress. To this effect, the proposal was signed into law last Tuesday.
“By raising the smoking age from 18 to 21, we can stop cigarettes and e-cigarettes from getting into the hands of young people in the first place and prevent an entire generation of New Yorkers from forming costly and potentially deadly addictions,” Cuomo said in a statement.
US Prevention Experts urge doctors to suggest e-cigs for Smoking Cessation
Meanwhile, the US Preventive Services Task Force, an independent, volunteer panel of experts in prevention and evidence-based medicine, is calling for more research on ways to help young people quit using tobacco. Despite the ongoing claims about an alleged teen vaping “epidemic”, the organization is urging doctors to add e-cigarettes to their efforts in preventing young people from using tobacco.
This has been the most significant change in a draft statement updating 2013 recommendations on steps primary care providers should take to stop tobacco use in kids. The measures also include education and brief counselling.
Task force member Dr Michael Silverstein said that preventing smoking amongst teens should be priority. “Preventing tobacco use among our young people is critical to the health of the nation. All youth are at risk for tobacco use and should be provided with interventions to help prevent them from ever starting.”
