As a parent and a physician, itβs been difficult to watch so many young people getting addicted to these products. And I think thatβs the driving force behind the position of the American Medical Association (AMA). Their goal is to stop yet another generation of addicts dependent on unhealthy products. So theyβre working to keep nicotine products out of the hands of young people. Another alarming driving force behind this new policy is the rising number of deaths linked to the lung illness outbreak. At the time of this writing, there have been 42 deaths and more than 2,000 people sicked by it.
How Will The Ban Become Law?
The way to get the ban in place is to lobby for regulatory, legislative, and legal action at both the federal and state levels. Now, there is more to this plan than just the ban. The AMA said they plan to exclude from their ban any FDA-approved e-cigarette or vaping products designed to help people quit smoking. They also want to advocate for research money to determine the health consequences of using these products. We simply need to know more. The AMA also wants funding to study methods of treating nicotine dependence for children 18 and younger.
Recommendations For Parents
I know youβre worried about your children, I am too. The best way for parents to help prevent their child from picking up this unhealthy habit is open communication. Have multiple honest, open conversations about how nicotine can harm their developing brain and how addictive it is. Federal numbers are showing a rise in both middle and high school students using vaping products. Start the conversations when theyβre young and together you can work out ways for them to handle peer pressure and avoid addiction. Hopefully, regulations will be in place to support parents working to protect their childβs health.Β
