Surgeon General issues report on electronic cigarettes

The U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy today released a new report, E-Cigarette Use Among Youth and Young Adults.

“We applaud the Surgeon General for bringing attention to the serious public health problem of youth use of e-cigarettes and the resulting adverse health effects,” said Chris Hansen, president of the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network. “The report issues a call to action for parents, teachers, scientists, the public health community, policymakers and the tobacco industry to take precautionary measures now to prevent e-cigarette use and future impact from these products among youth and young adults.”

The report was reviewed by 150 experts, highlights some of the risks associated with using electronic cigarettes, including nicotine addiction, behavior risks—including the use of other drugs and other tobacco products – as well as the potential harm from ingesting the aerosol from electronic cigarettes, which is not merely water vapor and contains potentially harmful chemicals.

“While alternative nicotine delivery devices may have a role in cessation, this role needs to be supported by science,” said Laurent Huber, executive director of Action on Smoking and Health. “In addition, there is a worrying trend that major tobacco companies such as Philip Morris (Altria), British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, RJ Reynolds and others are aggressively expanding into the electronic cigarette markets, in part due to the less strenuous regulatory environment.

“Given that their aim is not to help smokers quit but rather to increase the demand for their nicotine products, the recommendations from the Surgeon General’s report, particularly the suggestions for regulating marketing and sales, will aid in ensuring that electronic cigarettes do not become a new public health threat in years to come.”