The physicians, residents and medical students of the Massachusetts Medical Society back strongly
H.1902 and S.1279 and the bills’ intent to ban the sale of all flavored tobacco products, including those
used with e-cigarettes and vaping.
Compelled
by the alarming increase in vaping and e-cigarette use among our young
patients – a 2018 survey of high school students revealed a 78 percent
increase in use in just one year
– the medical society in May adopted organizational policy declaring we
will work with
Massachusetts lawmakers and
officials to develop strategies to prevent marketing, sales, and use of
e-cigarettes and other nicotine delivery products among children.
Whether or not the
industry is willing to admit that our patients under 21 are an intended
target, the dramatic increase in the use of flavored tobacco products
affirms that efforts to market harmful, addictive
products to children have been tragically successful.
As physicians, we
have a moral obligation to dissuade our patients from engaging in
activities we know can cause health risks and premature death. Our
support for these bills is simply about improving the
health of and saving the lives of our young patients and disrupting a
major means by which children access and become addicted to products
that can cause irreversible harm.
Dr. Maryanne C. Bombaugh
President,
Massachusetts Medical Society
