To the editor:
As an elementary school teacher, I don’t see the evidence of students using e-cigarettes like my high school and middle school teacher colleagues. However, I am scared to death that unless we get a quick handle on this epidemic, my kids are going to one day be facing the same issues. It is crystal clear that the kid-friendly packaging and the fun, fruity and candy flavors get kids hooked and has helped to feed the e-cigarette epidemic.
Other flavored tobacco products like flavored cigars and menthol cigarettes are also hooking too many kids. A Journal of the American Medical Association study found that 81 percent of youth who have ever used a tobacco product started with a flavored product.
These are among the many reasons why we need a comprehensive approach that would ban all flavored tobacco products and why Rep. Jared Golden should immediately support the Reversing the Youth Tobacco Epidemic Act which is expected to be considered by Congress later this month. If passed, it would ban these kinds of flavored products and give your kids a fighting chance.
Karin Howe
Wade
