American Heart Association Calls for FDA Regulation to Help Quell Upswing in Teen Use of E-Cigarettes

This survey's statistics on kids and e-cigarettes should set off alarm bells at the Food and Drug Administration. According to these findings, a new generation of American teens are taking up nicotine via e-cigarettes, which remain un-regulated. How many more of our children will fall prey to these hi-tech devices before the FDA acts?

PRESS RELEASE

Washington, D.C., December 16, 2014 — American Heart Association CEO Nancy Brown issued the following comments today on the National Institute on Drug Abuse’s 2014 Monitoring the Future Survey:

“This survey’s statistics on kids and e-cigarettes should set off alarm bells at the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). According to these findings, a new generation of American teens are taking up nicotine via e-cigarettes, which remain un-regulated. How many more of our children will fall prey to these hi-tech devices before the FDA acts?

It’s no surprise that the use of e-cigarettes is on the upswing among this age group. The technology, accessibility, and candy flavorings of these products are a magnetic draw for teens. More importantly, their increased use parallels a dramatic drop in cigarette smoking over the last five years. Among adolescents, smoking is at its lowest rate since this survey began in 1975 — a milestone we would normally celebrate. But this great accomplishment has been overshadowed by a shift to electronic nicotine-delivery systems.

Clearly our strongest defense against this disturbing trend is tougher regulation of e-cigarettes. We once again call on the FDA to provide this oversight before these products gain any more ground with the next generation.”

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