E-Cigarettes a Threat to Young Americans’ Health

According to United States Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, e-cigarettes pose an emerging health threat to American youth. The Food and Drug Administration reports that in 2015, 16% of high school students said they had used e-cigarettes at least once. Dr. Murthy writes, “My concern is e-cigarettes have the potential to create a whole new generation of kids who are addicted to nicotine… If that leads to the use of other tobacco-related products, then we are going to be moving backward instead of forward.” He adds that parents and healthcare providers need to explain their concerns about e-cigarettes with youngsters, and local officials should also take action, such as including e-cigarettes in indoor smoking bans.
Associated Press, December 2016