NATIONAL HARBOR, Md — Furthering its longtime commitment to preventing tobacco use amongst youth, the American Medical Association (AMA) adopted new policies at its Interim Meeting aimed at making e-cigarettes less appealing to youth. Recognizing the use of e-cigarettes and vaping as an urgent public health epidemic, the AMA will actively work with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and other relevant stakeholders to counteract the marketing and use of addictive e-cigarette and vaping devices—including but not limited to bans and strict restrictions on marketing to minors under the age of 21.

“The AMA is committed to keeping harmful tobacco products out of the hands of young people and we will continue to urge the FDA to ban flavors, as well as marketing practices, that enhance the appeal of these products to youth,” said Albert J. Osbahr, III, M.D., a member of the AMA Board of Trustees. “We believe more stringent policies will help protect our nation’s youth from the harmful effects of tobacco use.”

Over the years, the AMA has proudly supported anti-tobacco efforts to improve public health, and has strongly advocated for the FDA to extend its tobacco regulations and oversight to include e-cigarettes, cigars and other tobacco products, and ban the sale of these products to minors. Most recently, the AMA called on the FDA to create a non-addictive nicotine level standard for all tobacco products, including cigarettes, smokeless tobacco and e-cigarettes.

Improving the health of the nation is a top priority for the AMA and we will continue to advocate for policies that help reduce the burden of preventable diseases like cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, which can both be linked to smoking.