As part of a study which was published earlier, the AAP presented policies & recommendations like clinical guidelines regarding the reduction of tobacco dependence & exposure as well as the regulation of e-cigarettes & changes in public health policies. “We need to make sure that Alaskans of all ages know the health risks of using tobacco products and e-cigarettes”.
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According to Reuters, 80 percent of the youth who have used tobacco in the last 30 days answered that they used flavor ones and 60 percent of cigarette users.
The AAP says although adolescent use of tobacco has declined since the 1970s, e-cigarettes threaten to addict a new generation to nicotine.
The use of tobacco products and e-cigarettes should be banned in workplaces, health care facilities, restaurants, schools, parks, entertainment venues and bars, the study declared.
Dr. Karen M. Wilson, chair of the AAP Section on Tobacco Control, said, “Tobacco use continues to be a major health threat to children, adolescents and adults”.
There is very little known about the efficiency of e-cigarettes as far as treating tobacco dependency is concerned as well. And while e-cigarettes are marketed as a tool to help smokers quit, a few research suggests the devices may actually be a gateway to conventional cigarettes, especially among teens.
Pediatricians are urging to increase the minimum age for the purchase of tobacco and e-cigarettes to 21 years old since the addiction to nicotine among teenagers is continuously increasing and has become a major problem in the United States.
Nearly 90 percent of teens who had used hookah, 81 percent of ever e-cigarette users, 65 percent of ever users of any cigar type, and 50 percent of ever cigarette smokers said the first product they used was flavored.
Companies also need to start developing packaging which is child-resistant in order to prevent any curious children from being able to experiment. The new policies also advocate promoting smoke-free homes and vehicles.
Addressing its constituency, the AAP recommended that pediatricians counsel parents and caregivers who smoke about quitting.
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A 2014 study in the journal Tobacco Control found that cigar use is more common among youth age 18 to 25 than any other age group, which may be driven by the popularity of flavored cigars. “Protecting children from tobacco products is one of the most important things that a society can do to protect children’s health”.
