In the United States, the Director General of Public Health on Tuesday recommended “incisive” measures against e-cigarettes, the use of which in full expansion among young people could threaten their health and in particular their brain development.
"LESS OF DANGER DOES NOT MEAN WITHOUT DANGER"
« We must take serious action to protect our children from these very powerful products which risk exposing a new generation of young people to nicotine." , warns Jerome Adams in a rare public health recommendation.
« Electronic cigarettes are not safe“, He adds, stressing that“ exposure to nicotine during adolescence (could) interfere with brain development, which continues to develop until about age 25"
The American public health official had issued only one similar recommendation since taking office 16 months ago, in April. He then encouraged the population, faced with the serious opiate crisis that the country is experiencing, to take naloxone, an antidote to overdoses. The number of young people vaping has reached record levels in the United States.
The use of electronic cigarettes has increased last year by 78% among high school students, one in five of whom now admit to using devices intended to inhale vapors of liquid nicotine, often scented and highly addictive. In total, more than 3,6 million young Americans now use e-cigarettes.
They appeared on the American market around 2007 and since 2014 have been the most widely used tobacco products among young people across the country. Studies have shown that they contain fewer harmful substances for adults than traditional cigarettes and that they can help smokers stay away from them.
« But we can't let 'em fall young Americans into the addiction trap“, Told reporters Alex Azar, US Secretary of State for Health and Human Services, citing a " unprecedented challenge For the authorities.
THE E-CIGARETTE WITH WATER VAPOR: A "MYTH"!
For Jerome Adams, many young people believe that vaping is safe: " Even my 14 year old son thought it was just harmless water vapor. But we know it's a 
myth"
« Although electronic cigarettes contain fewer toxic substances than combustible products, they can expose their users, in addition to nicotine, to dangerous chemicals (...) including heavy metals, volatile organic compounds and ultrafine particles that can be inhaled into the lungs“, He warns in his public health recommendation.
« Less danger does not mean without danger“, Asserts the person in charge, according to which vaping can affect the capacities of learning, memorization and attention of young people and make them more prone to develop addictions in the future. Mr. Adams called on parents, doctors and teachers to take a series of measures, including banning electronic cigarettes indoors or more prevention on the dangers of these products.
He directly mentioned those of the brand Juul, particularly popular with young people with its vaporettes in the form of USB key.
« We applaud the recommendations made by the Director General of Public Health to help reverse this dangerous trend“, Reacted on Twitter the American Association for Research on Cancer. Since 2016, the American health agency (FDA) has regulated e-cigarettes, which are prohibited from sale to minors.
In November, she proposed a ban on the sale of flavored e-cigarettes on the internet, so that they are only available in stores. On the other hand, it exempted those with mint and menthol, popular among adults and likely to be used in the context of smoking cessation. These proposals are to be subject to a public comment period until June.
Source : Sciencesetavenir.fr
