AMA encourages all media to reject e-cigarette ads

CHICAGO – As e-cigarette product use among America’s youth continues to soar, the American Medical Association (AMA) today calls on all media companies to reject future advertising related to e-cigarette and vaping products, particularly ads targeting young people. In the absence of federal regulations that would prevent marketing practices that enhance the appeal of e-cigarette products to youth, the AMA applauds the responsible stance that some media companies have already taken to suspend these ads and encourages others to follow suit.

“The use of e-cigarettes by young people is a growing public health epidemic that must be addressed. That’s why we’re calling on media organizations to help us promote public health and reject any advertisements that market e-cigarette products to youth,” said AMA President Patrice A. Harris, M.D, MA. “While we’re pleased to see some media companies denying e-cigarette product ads during the current lung illness outbreak, we also encourage them and others to extend bans on e-cigarette product ads beyond the outbreak to help stem the rising use of these products among youth.”