A series of measures in favor of public health in the eastern United States

New Yorkers are deeply concerned about the use of e-cigarettes by young people and strongly support ending the sale of e-cigarettes and flavoured vaping products, according to a survey published by Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids (CTFK). Youth use of e-cigarettes is a major concern among the population (88%), with 61% being very concerned. It has been proven that the companies involved deliberately target youth by using attractive flavors. According to data from the 2019 National Youth Tobacco Survey (NYTS 2019)[1], 97% of youth e-cigarette users report using a flavored product in the past month, and 70% cite flavors as a reason for their use. Public officials across the country are being urged to act now to stop Juul and other e-cigarette companies from continuing to target youth with flavored nicotine products that are addicting a whole new generation and threatening decades of progress in reducing youth smoking. On the Maryland side, state legislatures approved a $1.75 tax increase per pack of cigarettes and also moved to raise taxes on other nicotine-containing products, including e-cigarettes and some vaping liquids. Notably, those same lawmakers approved a significant increase in funding for the state's tobacco prevention and cessation program — from $10 million to $18.25 million per year, or just over $3/person. New Jersey has just banned the sale of all flavored e-cigarettes for the same reasons of preventing a new generation from becoming addicted to nicotine. Governor Murphy is expected to sign the bill, which will make New Jersey the second state to end the sale of flavored e-cigarettes. Other provisions have been adopted, including: - a ban on the use of coupons and other promotions for tobacco products, including e-cigarettes (the first such ban in any state); - coverage of medical assistance for smoking cessation under Medicaid; and an increase in the ban on the sale of tobacco products, now to youth under 21. ©Generation Without Tobacco

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[1] https://www.cdc.gov/tobacco/data_statistics/mmwrs/byyear/2019/ss6812a1/index.html | ©National Committee Against Smoking |