N
F
E
R
NEWS
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AMA CALLS
FOR TOTAL
VAPE BAN
The American Medical Association wants to ban non-FDA
approved vaping products in the US.
Words: Phoebe Fuller
T
he American Medical Association (AMA) has called for a
ban on all vaping products that do not meet the US Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as smoking-
cessation tools.
In a press release dated November 19, the AMA cited the recent lung
illnesses in the US, as well as the spike in youth e-cigarette use, as
the reason for their decision.
AMA President Patrice A. Harris said: “The recent lung illness outbreak
has alarmed physicians and the broader public health community
and shined a light on the fact that we have very little evidence about
the short and long-term health consequences of e-cigarettes and
vaping products.”
Members of the US medical community came together at the
AMA’s House of Delegates interim meeting to develop and adopt
new policies that would ‘prevent another generation from becoming
dependent on nicotine’.
Alongside calling for the ban of non-FDA approved vaping devices, the
policies included advocating for research into the devices; and calling
for studies into the treatment of tobacco-use disorder.
Dr Harris added: “We must keep nicotine products out of the hands
of young people and that’s why we are calling for an immediate ban
on all e-cigarette and vaping products from the market.
“With the number of young people using e-cigarettes spiking it is not
only critical that there is research into nicotine addiction treatments
for this population, but it is imperative that we continue efforts to
prevent youth from ever using nicotine.”
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“We will continue to support policies
and regulations aimed at preventing
another generation from becoming
dependent on nicotine.”
The AMA says that it’s been ‘championing seminal anti-tobacco
efforts’ for the past fi ve decades and has been actively involved in
calling for smoking to be prohibited in public places.
They have also been involved in calling on tobacco companies to
stop ‘targeting children’ in advertising campaigns; a call they are now
making to e-cigarette companies, too.
In addition to the above policies, the AMA says they have asked media
organisations to reject any advertising that markets e-cigarettes to
young people.
“For decades we have led the public health fi ght to combat the
harmful effects of tobacco products, and we will continue to support
policies and regulations aimed at preventing another generation from
becoming dependent on nicotine,” said Dr Harris.