AMA applauds Surgeon General’s e-cigarette advisory

Statement attributable to:
Barbara L. McAneny, M.D.
President, American Medical Association

“The American Medical Association (AMA) strongly supports the Surgeon General’s advisory announced today calling for immediate action to address the skyrocketing use of e-cigarettes by youth. Given the dramatic rise in e-cigarette use amongst young people in the last year alone, it is very clear that we must all do everything we can to help reverse this epidemic. The only way to prevent another generation from developing nicotine dependence is to continue to raise awareness that e-cigarettes are harmful, powerfully addictive, and can often lead young people to smoke conventional cigarettes. E-cigarettes have the potential to undermine the public health gains that have been made over the years in combatting the smoking epidemic. We agree that parents, teachers and physicians are instrumental in reaching youth to help prevent e-cigarette use before it starts. We look forward to working closely with the Surgeon General’s Office to help protect our nation’s youth from e-cigarettes and the harmful nicotine they contain.