ATS Tobacco Action Committee supports regulation to curb exposure to health risks associated with tobacco products

Expert: Frank Leone, MD, chair of the Tobacco Action Committee of the American Thoracic Society and noted expert in tobacco use treatment and smoking cessation.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is expected issue its final ruling soon on the regulation of all tobacco products, including cigars and e-cigarettes, two of the largest sources of unregulated tobacco in the U.S.

Frank Leone, MD, chair of the ATS Tobacco Action Committee is in strong support of increased regulation in order to curb exposure to the significant health risks associated with all tobacco products including e-cigarettes and candy flavored cigars.

Key Messages:
•E-cigarette use among middle school students tripled from 1.1 percent in 2013 to 3.9 percent in 2014. Among high school students, e-cigarette use increased from 4.5 percent in 2013 to 13.4 percent in 2014.
•An estimated 1.2 million high school students and 220,000 middle school students use cigars, which are available in candy-flavored form.
•The ATS is strongly in favor of a final rule that:
oBans tobacco sales to minors
oBans candy or other sweetened characterized flavors
oRequires product registration
oRequires disclosure of ingredients
oRequires warning labels
oBans internet sales
oBans tobacco product merchandizing
oBans tobacco industry sponsorship of cultural events
o
•5.6 million of today's young people under the age of 18 will die early from a smoking-related illness if smoking continues at the current rate among this group in the US.

"The consequences of tobacco use can be deadly, but they are preventable. The FDA needs to lead the charge in banning the sale of these products that are being marketed to minors and other first-time users," said Dr. Leone.