LETTER: Vaping is threatening young lives; raise buying age to 21

To Ozaukee Press:

Medical experts, concerned parents, students and school officials from across Wisconsin testified last week in support of Assembly Bill 422, legislation to increase the legal sales age for all tobacco products, including e-cigarettes, from 18 to 21 years of age.

Health experts described the devastating consequences of tobacco and e-cigarette use and how so many of their high school-aged patients want to quit but are struggling with nicotine addiction.

High school students and principals described how rampant e-cigarette use has become in Wisconsin. Examples were presented of students who are selling their designer jeans and other belongings to purchase vape products, and another student testified that upperclassman have no problem making a quick buck by reselling a new Juul. Other testimony was given that empty Juul pods litter the ground at her child’s middle school.

This is an epidemic and regulation is needed to get these products out of the hands of our youth. Eighteen states have already increased the minimum sales age from 18 to 21. As public health policy, this is the first step to help eliminate this epidemic in our schools.

Some may say, “If you’re old enough to serve in the military, you’re old enough to smoke.” The U.S. surgeon general and the surgeons general of the Air Force, Army and Navy all support efforts that reduce tobacco use among members of our military, because tobacco products threaten the health, fitness and readiness of our nation’s soldiers. Smoking is not a freedom, it’s a bondage.

We ask Ozaukee Press readers to contact their legislators and voice their support for Assembly Bill 422.

Tim Sanborn, Ann Dodge, Carrie Chapman
Wisconsin Advocacy Committee
American Heart Association

 

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Ozaukee Press

Wisconsin’s largest paid circulation community weekly newspaper. Serving Port Washington, Saukville, Grafton, Fredonia, Belgium, as well as Ozaukee County government. Locally owned and printed in Port Washington, Wisconsin.

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