Source: Health Policy Institute of Ohio
The Trump administration and the Ohio Department of Health (ODH) both shared new plans to reduce youth vaping, amid an urgent public health investigation into 450 cases of lung illness across the U.S. associated with e-cigarettes (Source: “Ohio to Spend $4.1M on Initiatives Aimed to Fight Youth Vaping,” Dayton Daily News, September 11, 2019).
Amy Acton, MD, MPH, director of ODH, announced $4.1 million in new initiatives to prevent youth vaping. President Trump said September 11 that his administration is working on a plan to ban all non-tobacco-flavors from vaping products.
State and local public health officials in Ohio have confirmed that 10 reports of severe pulmonary illness are likely due to vaping and are investigating an additional 14 reports of illness. In 33 states, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says that it’s aware of more than 450 possible cases of severe pulmonary illness after vaping and six deaths.
The DeWine administration has already worked on several initiatives to curb teen vaping. This includes raising the purchase age to 21 starting Thursday, October 17, and placing an excise tax on e-cigarettes, which in the past were not subject to an excise tax. Raising the price of tobacco through an excise tax is an evidence-based way to reduce consumption.