PACT Notes

August 10th, 2018

National and State-Specific Unit Sales and Prices for Electronic Cigarettes, United States, 2012-2016

According to new CDC research, e-cigarette unit sales significantly increased in the United States from 2012 through 2016 for all assessed product types, including rechargeables, disposables, prefilled cartridges, and e-liquids. CDC and RTI International analyzed retail scanner data to assess national and state-specific trends in e-cigarette unit sales and prices for four product types sold. At the state level, monthly unit sales significantly increased for at least one product type in all 48 states and Washington, DC. During the same period, national e-cigarette prices significantly decreased for all product types with the exception of e-liquids, which increased in price in five states and Washington, DC. Furthermore, prominent shifts occurred by product type, with prefilled cartridges having the highest average sales and the lowest average price in 2016.

Leading Health Groups Urge FDA to Stop Sales of New, Juul-Like E-Cigarettes Illegally Introduced Without Agency Review

Six leading public health and medical organizations today urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to stop the sale of new electronic cigarette products that have been illegally introduced in recent months without the agency’s prior review and authorization. These include numerous products similar to the Juul e-cigarettes that have become wildly popular with teens across the United States. The groups sending a letter to FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb are the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, American Academy of Pediatrics, American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network, American Heart Association, American Lung Association and Truth Initiative.

Income Inequality and Life Expectancy – The Role of Tobacco Prevention Public Policies

The widening income gap in the United States has been a topic of much conversation and research over the past several years. A study that examined income and life expectancy showed that there are certain factors-such as smoking, obesity, and exercise-that help explain some of the differences in life expectancy between the highest and lowest income quartiles. This issue brief offers examples of policies that have been successful in reducing smoking rates because it is one of the major factors identified as helping explain some of the differences in life expectancy.

University of Findlay (OH) Becomes Tobacco-Free Campus

University of Findlay went from being tobacco free in buildings to being a completely tobacco free campus on Aug. 1. The policy not only prohibits the use of cigarettes but all products that contain nicotine, including vaping devices. A campus survey found 4 percent of students and 3 percent of faculty used tobacco. Four-hundred student survey respondents, out of 700, indicated they were concerned about the harmful effects of secondhand smoke and 54 percent of faculty respondents agreed. The majority of both groups responded, saying colleges have a responsibility to help reduce the consumption of tobacco products by college students.

Minimum Age to Buy Tobacco, E-Cigarettes in Tucson (AZ) Could be Raised to 21

With an overwhelming majority of smokers taking up the habit in or before high school, Tucson officials are looking to raise the purchasing age for tobacco and e-cigarettes within the city limits. This week, the Tucson City Council will consider exploring options for raising the age to purchase tobacco products from 18 to 21 years of age.

PACT Notes

PACT Notes – December 21, 2018

A new study found that increases in adolescent vaping from 2017 to 2018 were the largest ever recorded in the past 43 years for any adolescent substance use outcome in the U.S.

In just one year e-cigarette use among youth has skyrocketed, increasing by:
90% among 12th graders
96% among 10th graders
74% among 8th graders

PACT Notes – December 14, 2018

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark 1998 legal settlement between the states and the tobacco companies, which required the companies to pay more than $200 billion over time as compensation for tobacco-related health care costs.

The report challenges states to do more to fight tobacco use – the nation’s No. 1 preventable cause of death – and to confront the growing epidemic of youth e-cigarette use in America. In Pennsylvania, 8.7 percent of high school students smoke cigarettes, while 11.3 percent use e-cigarettes. Tobacco use claims 22,000 Pennsylvania lives and costs the state $6.3 billion in health care bills annually.

PACT Notes – December 7, 2018

This week Senator Mario Scavello (PA-40) released a co-sponsorship memo for Tobacco 21. He is actively looking for support in the Senate and plans to introduce legislation in the session starting in the new year. While PACT is still advising that advocates wait until the new year to start their legislative visits, if you have any connections with Senators you think might be interested in support please reach out to PACT and we are happy to connect them with Senator Scavello’s Office.