By Kathy Kennedy
State Rep., R-119
Kathy Kennedy
As a member of the Public Health committee this year, one of the major issues discussed was the dangers of vaping and how our state can curb youth e-cigarette use.
I supported the new law called Tobacco 21 that increases the legal smoking age (including e-cigarettes) from 18 to 21. As of Oct. 1, all customers must be at least 21 years old to purchase any tobacco product, any electronic cigarette or vapor product.
The new law also makes various other changes to smoking laws, such as expanding the existing ban on smoking at schools and childcare centers. For example, it expands the existing law’s prohibition on e-cigarette use to include the grounds of a childcare facility, instead of only inside the facility, and extends the prohibition to include cigarette and other tobacco products. As under existing law for e-cigarettes, the prohibition applies to family childcare homes (private homes caring for up to six children) only when a child enrolled in the home is present.
According to state officials and health advocates, raising the age of purchase will help prevent nicotine addiction. Nicotine has detrimental impacts on a developing brain, and 90 percent of smokers started before the age of eighteen.
Nicotine usage becomes more consistent between the ages of 18 and 21. The Institute of Medicine reports that raising the purchasing age will reduce the number of individuals who start smoking and consequently improve the health of adolescents and families. The younger an individual starts smoking, the greater the health impacts, including the propensity to continue smoking into adulthood and a higher risk of nicotine addiction. Three out of four adolescent smokers will continue smoking into adulthood due to nicotine addiction.
Raising the purchasing age should decrease the likelihood of students getting tobacco products from their friends. This in turn will minimize tobacco-related disruptions in schools. In addition, the Department of Public Health supports the expanded definition of tobacco products and the more precise labeling regarding nicotine composition.
In the last two months, three dozen people have died and about 1,500 vape users have suffered lung injuries. One death in Connecticut has been attributed to vaping.
The Centers for Disease Control is saying the common denominator in most of the lung cases is tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, which is the principal psychoactive constituent of marijuana, bought off the black market.
The CDC recommends that people who do use e-cigarette or vapor products not buy them off the street or modify products or add any substances that are not intended by the manufacturer.
I’m sure in the new 2020 legislative session, which begins in February; the General Assembly will examine the latest scientific evidence on vaping and what the legislature can do to educate the public.
As always, please contact me should you have any questions or concerns relating to state government at Kathy.Kennedy@housegop.ct.gov or at 800-842-1423.