The 28th annual Indiana Youth Survey shows a sharp increase in vaping by under-age students in the state. It reports that the proportion of high-school seniors using e-cigarettes was up from 19.7% in 2017 to 28.6%.
Ruth Gassman, executive director of Indiana University’s Institute for Research on Addictive Behavior, which carried out the survey, declared: “With this year’s survey results, we confirm that our concern is well-founded and the use of these products among teens continues to be a public health issue.”
Meanwhile, Illinois governor Bruce Rauner has been strongly criticised for his decision to veto state senate bill SB 2332, which would have raised the minimum age to buy cigarettes, vaping devices and tobacco products from 18 to 21.
Rauner told local press that smoking is “detrimental to the health of Illinoisans of all ages,” but added: “Raising the age people can purchase tobacco products will push residents to buy tobacco products from non-licensed vendors or in neighboring states. [As] no neighboring state has raised the age for purchasing tobacco products, local businesses and the state will see decreased revenue while public health impacts continue.”
These – along with details of legal changes and proposals in 13 states and at federal level – were among 74 stories published last month by ECigIntelligence to subscribers through our daily US Live Alerts.
All the stories from August’s US regulatory Live Alerts can now be found here, on one page, ordered alphabetically by state.
The daily service covers significant regulatory and policy-related developments at federal level and in the largest states (Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Virginia), selected major cities and counties (New York City and its five boroughs, Los Angeles County and City, San Francisco County and City, Cook County and Chicago, Dallas County and Dallas, Harris County and Houston, Philadelphia County and Philadelphia, Miami-Dade County and Miami City, Maricopa County and Phoenix). Relevant developments in jurisdictions not specifically covered may also be included.
– ECigIntelligence staff
Photo: Kristie