LINDSEY STROUD: Wasting Time Tracking Down Unauthorized E-Cigs Actually Does More Harm Than Good For Americans’ Health
The Trump administration faces a significant challenge: millions of unauthorized flavored tobacco and vapor products continue to proliferate nationwide, while bureaucratic agencies lag in approving these products for market. In response, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has partnered with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and other organizations to curb the importation of millions of e-cigarettes.
While removing technically illegal products may seem beneficial, the increased scrutiny limits adult consumer access to safer alternatives and disregards the record-low rates of youth e-cigarette use. Meanwhile, valuable resources are diverted to target adult-focused products instead of addressing the influx of far deadlier substances, such as fentanyl, which cause over 100,000 American deaths annually.
Contrary to alarmist rhetoric from public health groups, e-cigarettes and other novel nicotine products are proven tools for tobacco harm reduction. More than a decade of evidence shows that e-cigarettes are significantly safer than combustible cigarettes and contribute to sharp declines in smoking rates across all age groups.
Unfortunately, millions of adult smokers, along with e-cigarette manufacturers and retailers, face significant obstacles. The FDA refuses to acknowledge the role of flavors in aiding smoking cessation and has authorized just 34 e-cigarette products, all limited to tobacco and menthol flavors. Despite the lack........© Independent Journal Review
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